Indiana Pacers Come Back Against Golden State Warriors For First Win Of Season

The Golden State Warriors walked into Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday night with all the confidence of a team that’s been here before. They left with their tails between their legs after a brutal 114-109 loss to the Indiana Pacers—a team that had been desperately searching for its first win of the season.

Let’s be honest: this one stung. The Warriors had control. They were up by 10 heading into the fourth quarter. And then? They completely fell apart.

Pacers’ Fourth-Quarter Heroics Seal the Deal

Indiana closed the game on an absolutely blistering 20-5 run over the final 5:46. That’s the kind of momentum swing that makes coaches lose sleep and fans throw things at their TVs. Quenton Jackson, who probably woke up that morning thinking it was just another Saturday, dropped 12 of his career-high 25 points in the final frame. He also dished out 10 assists for his first career double-double.

But Jackson wasn’t alone at this party. Aaron Nesmith went off for a career-high 31 points, draining five three-pointers. Pascal Siakam wasn’t messing around either, pouring in 27 points on efficient 12-of-23 shooting. His clutch three-pointer with 37 seconds left basically put the final nail in Golden State’s coffin.

Together, Nesmith and Siakam combined for 58 points. That’s more than half of Indiana’s total output, and frankly, the Warriors had no answer for them down the stretch.

Pacers Overcome Injury-Depleted Roster

Here’s the kicker: the Pacers did all this without their star Point Guard Tyrese Haliburton, who’s expected to miss the entire season. They were also missing Andrew Nembhard, Obi Toppin (out at least three months with a stress fracture), Bennedict Mathurin, and T.J. McConnell. That’s half of their rotation sitting in street clothes.

And yet, they still found a way to beat a Warriors squad that should’ve had this game wrapped up with a bow. That’s embarrassing for Golden State, but it’s also a testament to Indiana’s grit and determination. Sometimes you just need one win to break the seal, and boy, did they break it.

Warriors’ Offense Goes Ice Cold When It Mattered Most

Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 24 points, but his stat line doesn’t tell the whole story. Steph was a brutal 8-of-23 from the field and 4-of-16 from deep. Worse yet, in the final 6:26 of the fourth quarter, he had a plus-minus of -13, scored just six points on 2-of-7 shooting, and turned the ball over five times. That’s not the Curry we’re used to seeing in crunch time.

Jimmy Butler added 20 points with 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks—basically stuffing the stat sheet like it was Thanksgiving dinner. Jonathan Kuminga threw down five dunks and finished with 17 points, while Brandin Podziemski chipped in 16 points, with 10 of those coming in the third quarter.

But here’s the thing: Golden State shot a putrid 27.3% from three-point range, making just 12 of 44 attempts. You can’t win games when your bread-and-butter offense, the three-ball, decides to take a vacation. Add in 16 turnovers that led to 17 Pacers points, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.

What’s Next For Both Teams?

The Pacers snapped their five-game losing streak to start the season and will look to build some momentum when they host the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday. Meanwhile, the Warriors extended their road losing streak to three games and headed home to face the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, hoping to regroup and figure out how to close out games.

This loss is a wake-up call for Golden State. You can’t sleepwalk through fourth quarters in the NBA, even against undermanned opponents. The Pacers proved that hunger and hustle can overcome a lack of star power—and sometimes, that’s all you need.