Matthews fuels rally, Pacers beat Pelicans 126-111

With All-Star guard Victor Oladipo out, new addition Wesley Matthews has helped the Indiana Pacers adapt.

Matthews scored 15 of his 24 points during a third-quarter rally and the Pacers overcame a 20-point deficit to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 126-111 on Friday night.

"What you saw was a team that looked like they had come off a break and was still on break for the first half," Pacers coach Nate McMillan said. "The second half, we came out there and started playing the basketball we're capable of playing."

New Orleans Pelicans guard E'Twaun Moore (55) drives on Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 22, 2019. (AP PhotoMichael Conroy)

The Pacers also took advantage of a short night from disgruntled Pelicans star Anthony Davis. New Orleans interim general manager Danny Ferry said Thursday that Davis would see limited minutes the rest of the season while New Orleans focuses "on the future of the team." Davis played 20 minutes, getting 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists. It's unclear if he'll play against the Lakers on Saturday night.

In his third game since being cut by the Knicks and joining Indiana, Matthews sparked a second-half surge when he drained a 3-pointer with 2.5 seconds remaining in the second quarter, cutting New Orleans' lead to 13 after it reached 20 a few minutes earlier.

Indiana trailed 71-58 at halftime and didn't lead until Matthews' three free throws with 6:23 remaining in the third quarter. Matthews provided momentum for Indiana through the remainder of the quarter, setting up Tyreke Evan's 3-pointer with 3 seconds left in the third. Indiana took a three-point lead and never looked back.

New Orleans Pelicans guard E'Twaun Moore (55) drives on Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 22, 2019. (AP PhotoMichael Conroy)

"We didn't come out with the right energy to start this game," Matthews said. "It was up to us to correct it in the second half."

Domantas Sabonis had 18 points and 12 rebounds. Sabonis got his 23rd double-double of the season, and Bojan Bogdanovic added 20 points for Indiana.

Six Pelicans scored in double figures, led by Cheick Diallo's 16 points. Julius Randle and Elfrid Payton each had 15 points.

New Orleans Pelicans center Jahlil Okafor (8) shoots over Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 22, 2019. (AP PhotoMichael Conroy)

New Orleans outscored Indiana in the paint and on fast breaks, but the Pacers' performance in the final two periods overcame that. It was the first time Indiana won by at least 10 points after trailing by at least 20 since December 2015.

"I don't think we played with the same energy starting the third quarter that we started the game with," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said. "We had a couple of plays that was such a momentum swing, a couple of layups here and there (missed) and they come down and make a 3-point shot. They're a really good team and they're going to stay in the game and continue to claw away at it."

BIG EASY

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday (11) shoots over Indiana Pacers center Kyle O'Quinn (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 22, 2019. (AP PhotoMichael Conroy)

Davis has made it clear he won't re-sign with New Orleans when his contract ends after next season, so the Pelicans plan to scale back his usage. He still has to play, though, due to NBA rules that dictate healthy players must suit up, especially on the road and on national television.

TIP-INS

Pelicans: New Orleans' 71 first-half points were one point shy of its season high. ... The Pelicans are 0-17 on the road when they trail at the end of the third quarter. ... New Orleans blew a double-digit lead against Indiana in both meetings this season.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) looks to pass the ball as Indiana Pacers forward Thaddeus Young (21) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 22, 2019. (AP PhotoMichael Conroy)

Pacers: Myles Turner was ruled out with a bruised left hip. ... The Pacers are 36-7 when leading at the end of the third quarter. .... The Pacers had at least six players score in double figures for an NBA best 27th time this season.

UP NEXT

Pelicans: Host the Lakers Saturday night.

Pacers: visit the Wizards Saturday night.

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

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.

They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.

Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.

76ERS 125, KNICKS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..

Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.

Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)