Pacers' 71-point first half shows what a healthy Haliburton, productive Siakam means

INDIANAPOLIS – The Pacers‘ preseason slate has concluded with a 128-127 loss in overtime against the Milwaukee Bucks in Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Assistant Lloyd Pierce served as head coach for the Pacers with Rick Carlise in Charlottesville, Va., for a sorority event for his daughter.

Indiana was led in scoring by Pascal Siakam, who scored 24 points. The focus now shifts to the regular season, which begins with a game at the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.

Here are three observations from the preseason finale:

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Before all the starters were taken out for the second half, the Pacers led 71-56 at halftime. The 71-point half was the best for the team in all eight halves of preseason basketball.

The Pacers hardly ever struggled on offense in the first half and ball movement was a key reason why. The Pacers had 19 assists in the half, with 13 coming from the starting backcourt of Tyrese Haliburton (six assists) and Andrew Nembhard (seven). If the Pacers don’t have T.J. McConnell – who missed every preseason game with an undisclosed injury – to start the regular season, Nembhard will likely serve as the backup point guard when Haliburton is off the floor.

Four of the Pacers’ five starters reached double-digit points, with Kelly Oubre Jr. – who started in place of Aaron Nesmith (hamstring) — scoring just four points. With Haliburton back in the lineup, this offense can yet again be potent, and Friday showed that.

Heading into the regular season, it’s unclear what the Pacers want to do when Ivica Zubac isn’t on the floor. After Larry Nance Jr. missed the preseason opener, he was the center who played off the bench – over Jay Huff – in the first half of the second and third games. On Friday, neither Nance nor Huff played in the first half.

When Zubac was off the floor in the first half, the Pacers used Obi Toppin – who’s traditionally a forward – at the center spot. Toppin shared the frontcourt with Siakam and two-way player Kobe Brown when he played center in the first half.

The Pacers applauded the versatility Nance and Huff bring off the bench to start training camp, but it doesn’t seem like either has gained the trust of the coaching staff. Once the Pacers head to New Orleans, they might opt to downsize with Toppin as the center anytime Zubac isn’t playing.

Siakam started the game with three turnovers and two missed field goals before he hit a pair of free throws with 43 seconds left in the quarter. The All-Star proceeded to score another 22 points to lead the Pacers’ offensive charge.

Siakam made all eight of his field goal attempts, including five 3-pointers, in the second quarter to tally those 22 points. The Cameroonian made open shots, transition 3s and late-clock shots to fill up the scoreboard.

In the first three preseason games, Siakam averaged just 9.7 points per game and made 38% of his field goals. On Friday, he looked much more like himself.

Dustin Dopirak covers the Pacers all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Pacers Insider newsletter.

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