By George, he did it again for Pacers

The Pacers defeated the host Sacramento Kings Friday night 116-111 in overtime. The Pacers are now 34-8 and the Kings are now 15-27.
The Big Plays
The first real big play for the Pacers in this game didn't come until there was 15.1 seconds left in regulation. The Pacers were down four and Paul George came off a screen and hit a 3-pointer and was fouled by Derrick Williams (here's the video link. George then hit the free throw and the defense held to force the overtime. Another big play came early in the overtime with the Pacers down by a point. With the shot clock running down forward David West found himself open from behind the 3-point line and hit it to put the Pacers up 108-106. And then the final big play of the game came with the Kings down three and with the ball with 22.4 seconds left. The Pacers put George on the red-hot Isiah Thomas, who was denied access into the lane and when he turned his back on the defense and dribbled with his right hand, George stole the ball, was fouled, and hit the final two free throws to seal the win.
The Ups

1) It's hard to say just where George's four-point play will rank on his play list in his young career, but at least in terms of regular season big shots, this was a key one, especially when you do it on the road. But George was good all night as he finished with 36 points and 12 of 22 shooting and hit all eight of his free throws. George without question deserves his all-star starting status, but what was nice to see in this game was that your all-star/MVP candidate stepped up and hit the big shot here. It's the second time he's hit a 3-pointer to send a game into overtime for the Pacers this season and the Pacers won both of those games (the other one was at New York). It's good too for your best player to get used to taking and making these kinds of shots. And just a little reminder here, too, never give up when things look bad. That attitude is what makes great players great.
2) A big part of the reason the Pacers got back into this game was the play of West, especially in the fourth quarter. West finished with 22 points on 9 of 14 shooting and six rebounds. West consistently exposed the defensively challenged Jason Thompson in the low post and it was really a case where West knew he could take him and Thompson knew he couldn't stop him. Without West's play in this game, George's four-point play doesn't happen.
3) This was by no means a great game played by the Pacers, but after giving up 60 points or more in three straight halves (we'll get to that in a second), they did seem to find their identity in the second half. The Pacers allowed 42 points to the Kings in the third and fourth quarters, and that's the kind of game they need to play. Maybe it will be a sign of good things to come on the final two games of the road trip.
The Downs
1) The Kings were without two of their best players in Rudy Gay and DeMarcus Cousins. So, it wasn't unreasonable to think that the Pacers would go into Sacramento and have this thing wrapped up by the middle of the third quarter. If there's a lesson here it's that nothing can be assumed and that you know, you just can't flip the intensity switch on and expect to walk out with a win. It's an every game, every quarter, every minute, every possession thing. So, maybe that lesson was reinforced a bit Friday night.
2) We understand that Isiah Thomas Jr. is in the running for most improved player and that Marcus Thornton is capable of hitting some shots if he's left open. But really, a team that pride's itself on defense can't allow these two guys to combine for 80 points in a game. Thornton had 19 in the first quarter and his confidence level was through the roof the entire game as he finished with 42. The left-handed Thomas, much like the left-handed Goran Dragic in Phoenix on Wednesday night, had his way with the Pacers, especially in the first half. It wasn't until Pacers point guard George Hill started going over top of the screens they were setting for Thomas that the defense began to change. Maybe these past two games was a good lesson on how the Pacers need to defend the pick and roll. If not, teams will keep doing it until the Pacers find a way to stop it.
Afterthoughts
This wasn't a great win in terms of going on the road and beating a top team. But it was a good win in that the Pacers were clearly struggling with getting back to the type of style they like to play and they found it just in time to make it a game in the second half and set up George's big shot. So, in April if you look at the season results and see the Pacers won at Sacramento, you'd be like well, yeah that's expected, what's the big deal? But at this point in the season and given what had happened in Wednesday's loss at Phoenix, and that it was the the first night of back-to-back with the next opponent being off on Friday night, it was maybe a little bit of big deal. And you know, it's always nice to steal one of the road, no matter who the opponent is.
Next Up
The Pacers visit the Denver Nuggets, who are led by former Pacers assistant coach Brian Shaw. The Nuggets are led on the court by point guard Ty Lawson at 17.8 points and 8.5 assists. They also have Wilson Chandler at 13.7 points, forward J.J. Hickson at 11.5 points and 9.1 rebounds, diminutive guard Nate Robinson at 10.8 points, guard Randy Foye at 10.7 points and forward Kenneth Faried at 10 points and 7.7 rebounds. The Nuggets are 20-21 on the season.