White's fast start helps lead San Antonio past Pacers 109-94

Derrick White and Jakob Poeltl took advantage of their early mismatches by delivering a quick knockout punch and leading the San Antonio Spurs to a 109-94 victory over short-handed Indiana on Monday night.

White scored 16 of his 25 points in the first quarter, while Poeltl finished with 16 points and seven rebounds in the Spurs' second straight win.

Malcolm Brogdon and Caris LeVert each scored 18 to lead the Pacers, who have lost three in a row. This time, the Pacers played without two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis (sore lower back) and defensive player of the year candidate Myles Turner (right foot). T.J. Warren, who will miss the rest of the season with a stress fracture in his left foot. Turner's replacement, Goga Bitadze, did not finish the game because of a sprained left ankle.

Indiana Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon, center, shoots around San Antonio Spurs forward DeMar DeRozan, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, April 19, 2021. (AP PhotoMichael Conroy)

And without all those players missing, White and Poeltl made sure Indiana never had a chance.

White's 3-pointer capped a 15-4 run to close the first quarter, which gave the Spurs a 36-21 lead they never surrendered.

LeVert scored six straight late in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 47-38. But San Antonio still led 55-44 at halftime and sealed the victory by extending the lead to 21 in the third quarter.

Indiana Pacers center Goga Bitadze (88) stops the shot of San Antonio Spurs guard Derrick White (4) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, April 19, 2021. (AP PhotoMichael Conroy)

The game was marred by a fourth-quarter shoving match that resulted in technical fouls on the two instigators — Indiana's JaKarr Sampson and Patty Mills — as well as Spurs forward Rudy Gay. Sampson was ejected following the brief fracas.

TIP-INS:

Spurs: DeMar DeRozan finished with 18 points and needs five more to pass Earl Monroe (17,454 points) for No. 87 on the NBA's career scoring list. ... Poeltel also had seven rebounds and Drew Eubanks matched his career high with (13) rebounds. ... Dejounte Murray had 11 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. ... The Spurs went 29 of 35 from the free-throw line, compared with 18 of 27 for Indiana. ... San Antonio improved to 16-10 on the road and earned a split in the season series.

Indiana Pacers guard Caris LeVert, left, shoots over San Antonio Spurs guard Derrick White, center, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, April 19, 2021. (AP PhotoMichael Conroy)

Pacers: Brogdon also had six rebounds and five assists. ... Bitadze had seven points, ninerebounds and matched his career high with (five) blocks. ... Oshae Brissett had 13 points and six rebounds. ... Indiana also played without backup forward Jeremy Lamb (sore left knee). ... Indiana is 1-5 in its last six home games and 9-17 this season at Bankers Life Fieldhouse after going 31 consecutive seasons without a losing record at home.

MYLES OUT

The Pacers announced Monday that Turner is out indefinitely because of a partial tear in the plantar plate of his right foot. He has missed 10 games this season and yet started Monday ranked second in the league with 159 blocks, trailing only Rudy Gobert of Utah. Turner's streak of 64 consecutive games with a block ended during Indiana's recent road trip. Turner has a league-leading 12 games with five or more blocks this season.

Indiana Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon, right, shoots in front of San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, April 19, 2021. (AP PhotoMichael Conroy)

TWO TRIBUTES

The Pacers wore a black stripe on their uniforms for the first time Monday in honor of Hall of Fame coach and longtime color analyst Bobby “Slick” Leonard, who died last week at age 88. They will wear the stripe on both home and road jerseys the rest of this season.

Then, before the national anthem, the Pacers also paid tribute to the eight people killed in last week's mass shooting at the FedEx facility. The public address announcer announced each name as photos of the eight victims were displayed on the video board above center court.

Indiana Pacers forward JaKarr Sampson (14) and San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills (8) exchange words during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, April 19, 2021. Sampson was ejected from the game. (AP PhotoMichael Conroy)

UP NEXT

Spurs: Head home Wednesday to take on Miami in the first of back-to-back home games.

Pacers: Host Oklahoma City on Wednesday in the second game of a three-game homestand.

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports.

Indiana Pacers forward JaKarr Sampson (14) is held back by forward Justin Holiday (8) after he and San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills (8) exchange words during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, April 19, 2021. Sampson was ejected from the game. (AP PhotoMichael Conroy)

San Antonio Spurs guard Dejounte Murray (5) goes up for a rebound over Indiana Pacers center Goga Bitadze (88) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, April 19, 2021. (AP PhotoMichael Conroy)

San Antonio Spurs guard Derrick White (4) drives around Indiana Pacers forward Oshae Brissett (12) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, April 19, 2021. (AP PhotoMichael Conroy)

Indiana Pacers forward JaKarr Sampson (14) and San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills (8) exchange words during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, April 19, 2021. (AP PhotoMichael Conroy)

San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl, left, fouls Indiana Pacers center Goga Bitadze, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, April 19, 2021. (AP PhotoMichael Conroy)