Ellis’ pull-up 3-pointer with 18 seconds left lifts Pacers past Thunder
Monta Ellis made a pull-up 3-pointer with 18 seconds left, and the Indiana Pacers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 101-98.
The Thunder led 93-86 with 2:47 left before the Pacers went on a 13-2 run.
The Thunder had the ball down 3, but Russell Westbrook missed a 36-foot pull-up 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have tied it.
During clutch time, the Pacers outscored the Thunder 12-9. Ellis scored 6 of the Pacers’ 12 on 2 for 2 shooting. In the fourth quarter, Westbrook had 4 of his 18 assists, 1 of them on a basket by Kevin Durant that put the Thunder ahead.
Ellis had 27 points and 3 steals, and Paul George added 22 points and a season-high 10 assists. George assisted on 6 of Ian Mahinmi’s 9 baskets.
For the Thunder, Durant had 31 points and 8 rebounds, and Westbrook added 23 points and a season-high 18 assists.
The Pacers shot 44.3% from the field and 40.9% from 3 to the Thunder’s 43.8% and 19.2%. The Thunder got 9 offensive rebounds, about 4 fewer than usual for the shots they missed. The Thunder’s starters were outscored 54-43 in 22 minutes together.