In a December 8 showdown at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Indiana Pacers defeated the Sacramento Kings 116–105 — powered by a standout performance from Andrew Nembhard and balanced scoring from his teammates. 

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Key Performers & Numbers

Indiana Pacers

  • Andrew Nembhard — 28 points, season-high 12 assists; controlled the game down the stretch and sparked the decisive rally in the fourth quarter. 

  • Bennedict Mathurin — 25 points, providing a scoring punch alongside Nembhard. 

  • Pascal Siakam — 23 points, contributing important offense to keep the Pacers ahead. 

Sacramento Kings

  • Russell Westbrook — recorded a triple-double: 24 points, 12 rebounds, 14 assists. Despite his all-around effort, Sacramento couldn’t close the gap. 

  • DeMar DeRozan — added 20 points. 

  • Zach LaVine — contributed 16 points. 

Game Flow & Impact

  • The Pacers opened strong — building a 66-51 halftime lead and stretching it to 77–58 in the third quarter. 

  • The Kings fought back in the third, scoring 37 points in that quarter to cut the deficit to 92–88 going into the fourth. 

  • Sacramento even took the lead 101–97 early in the fourth, fueled by an 11–0 run. 

  • But Indiana responded with a late-game 19–4 run over the final 5:41 — 12 of those from Nembhard — sealing the 116–105 victory. 

What This Means

  • The Pacers — after a tough start to the season — have now won four of their last six games, signalling a possible turnaround. 

  • Nembhard’s emerging leadership and chemistry with teammates like Mathurin and Siakam seems to be paying off.

  • For the Kings, Westbrook’s triple-double underscores his value, but the team struggled to contain Indiana’s closing surge — suggesting defensive lapses or fatigue late.