NBA: Kam Jones' late 3-pointer propels Pacers past Nets

Rookie Kam Jones hit a clutch 3-pointer with 16.8 seconds left to lift the Indiana Pacers to a 115-110 comeback victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday in New York. The Pacers erased an 18-point deficit and secured their second straight close win, improving to 9-9 in their past 18 games after a rough 6-31 start.

With 38.3 seconds left, Brooklyn's Day’Ron Sharpe stole the ball from Jones and converted a layup to tie the game. But on the next possession, Kobe Brown found Jones on the right side, and the rookie guard calmly drained a 3-pointer just before Terance Mann could defend.

The Nets had one final chance when rookie Nolan Traore’s shot was blocked by Jay Huff with 8.1 seconds remaining. After securing an offensive rebound and calling a timeout, Egor Demin’s 3-point attempt fell short with 4.1 seconds left. Micah Potter then sealed the win with two free throws with 1.6 seconds left.

Jarace Walker led the Pacers with 23 points, including 14 in the second half. Potter added a career-high 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Ethan Thompson contributed 15 and Taelon Peter 14. Jones and Huff each finished with 11 points as Indiana outscored Brooklyn 51-28 over the final 18½ minutes.

Indiana shot 48.9% despite sitting Pascal Siakam (left hamstring), Andrew Nembhard (lower back), Aaron Nesmith (lower back), and T.J. McConnell (right hamstring).

The Nets, missing Michael Porter Jr. (right knee tendinitis), Nic Claxton (right hip), and Noah Clowney (left ankle), struggled to maintain momentum. Traore led Brooklyn with 20 points, while Sharpe and Ziaire Williams added 19 each. Rookie Danny Wolf scored 14, Demin had 13, and fellow first-year guard Ben Saraf contributed 12. Brooklyn shot 44.7% and were outscored 31-20 in the final quarter, falling to 5-19 in their last 24 games.

The Nets built an 82-64 lead with 6½ minutes left in the third quarter after Williams hit two 3-pointers during an eight-point streak. The Pacers responded with a 20-8 run to narrow the gap to 90-84 entering the fourth. Peter’s stepback 3 tied the game at 97-97 with 8:45 remaining, and Potter’s free throw gave Indiana a 98-97 edge. Jones later hit an eight-footer for a 105-101 lead, and Demin’s corner 3 briefly put Brooklyn ahead 108-106 with 2:04 left before the Pacers closed it out.

-Field Level Media/Reuters