OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The sports world stared in awe at Tyrese Haliburton’s game-winner over the Oklahoma City Thunder last night, but Andrew Nembhard is getting plenty of flowers across social media and the Indiana Pacers squad.
Nembhard, a former star for the Gonzaga Bulldogs, locked down in the fourth quarter, hitting multiple clutch shots and shutting down NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at key points late to help the Indiana nine-point comeback inside three minutes to go in the game.
Gilgeous-Alexander still had a strong game, and Haliburton spoke about how well the Pacers did to slow him down despite the good performance.
“Many situations where different guys are having to cover him, we’re just trying to make it as tough as we can. I mean, the guy still finished with, what did you guys say? 38? Yeah, I mean… how… I mean, that’s unbelievable,” Haliburton said. “But, I just think we did a great job of showing bodies, and that starts with Drew and his persistence over 48 minutes. So, that’s his calling hard, and we have the utmost trust in him to get stops.”
Head coach Rick Carlisle agreed, and he would know a thing or two about underdog comebacks as he orchestrated the 2011 Dallas Mavericks championship.
“There was the stepback three, which was a big momentum play, I think it went from six to three. And there was an and-one where it went to the rim, I don’t know what point it was in the fourth, but a lot of big plays,” Carlisle said. “You gotta have playmakers against Oklahoma City. They just make it so difficult defensively.”
Indiana returns to face OKC in Game 2 of the seven-game series this Sunday at 5:00 p.m. on ABC.
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