No Caris LeVert. No MylesTurner. No problem.
Despite missing two starters, the No.9 ranked Pacers had little trouble eliminating No.10 Charlotte, 144-117, at the Bankers Life Stadium in Indianapolis.
The Pacers opened the knockout game with a 40-24 run and never looked back.
Led by Oshea Brissett, who had 21 points, all of Indy’s starters finished with double-figures in scoring. Doug McDermott pumped in 21 and TJ McConnell starred with 17 off the bench. All-Star Damonstas Sabonis registered 14 points, 21 rebounds and nine dimes
Miles Bridges paced the Hornets with 23 points but it wasn’t enough to carry a Charlotte team that missed the services of Gordon Hayward and converted only 45.7 percent from the field (43-of-94) and 30 percent from longdistance (12 of 40).
The Pacers will meet the Wizards on Friday to determine who claims the eighth and last playoffs berth in the Eastern Conference.
