NBA: Pacers charge past Clippers, ensure winning trip

Pascal Siakam scored 31 points and Myles Turner added 24 as the visiting Indiana Pacers turned improved defense into a 133-116 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.

Tyrese Haliburton scored 21 points and handed out nine assists and T.J. McConnell added 15 points as the Pacers (41-32) won for the third time in four games. Indiana held the Clippers in check after allowing 150 points to the Los Angeles Lakers in a defeat on Sunday.

The Pacers, who sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, shot 58.1 percent from the floor while improving to 3-1 on a five-game road trip that ends Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls.

Kawhi Leonard and Paul George each scored 26 points as the Clippers (44-27) dropped their second home game in a row. They fell to the 76ers 121-107 on Sunday. The Clippers now embark on a four-game road trip that starts at Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Norman Powell scored 22 points and Russell Westbrook added 14 points and seven assists in 18 minutes for the Clippers. Westbrook returned after missing the previous 12 games following surgery for a fractured left hand. James Harden was held to 11 points, though he dished out seven assists.

Los Angeles led the Western Conference briefly last month but is now tied for fourth place with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Looking rejuvenated upon Westbrook’s return, the Clippers shot 68.4 percent from the floor in the first quarter and took a 34-29 lead. The Pacers came to life in the second quarter to take a 65-62 edge into halftime behind 15 points from Haliburton.

After trailing by 10 points early in the third quarter, the Clippers pulled within 87-84 with 2:53 remaining in the period after a free throw from Westbrook. However, Indiana closed the quarter on a 10-5 run to take a 97-89 advantage.

Consecutive baskets by Siakam and two more from Jalen Smith to open the fourth quarter gave the Pacers a 105-89 lead with 11:14 remaining. The gap swelled to 20 at 115-95 on a 3-pointer from Ben Sheppard with 8:05 remaining. Indiana cruised to the victory from there.

The Clippers shot 54.1 percent from the floor but went to the free-throw line 22 times one day after the Lakers took 43 free-throw attempts and made 38 against the Pacers. Indiana was whistled for 21 fouls on Monday after committing 31 on Sunday.

—Field Level Media/Reuters