The Indiana Pacers (44-31) erased a 16-point deficit and survived a grueling fourth quarter to secure a narrow 111-109 victory over the Sacramento Kings (36-39) on April 1.
Sacramento Kings Top Performers:
DeMar DeRozan 31 PTS | 3 REB | 8 AST | 52.6 FPS
DeRozan remains a consistent offensive threat, scoring 20+ points for the 15th time this month—though he’s surpassed 30 only three times. He should have no trouble maintaining his momentum, given his impressive shooting percentages and strong production from the line. On top of that, he’s stepped up with elite playmaking performances this month. However, the team’s slump only deepens, as they’ve lost six of their last seven games.
Domantas Sabonis 25 PTS | 16 REB | 1 STL | 46.2 FPS
Sabonis has been on a roll with five straight impressive rebounding games and has also found his scoring touch, posting his second 20-point game in the last three since returning from an ankle problem. However, his production has been limited in other areas—most notably today, where he failed to register a single assist. While he’s expected to continue racking up double-doubles, his overall production may remain inconsistent.
Keegan Murray 12 PTS | 7 REB | 2 BLK | 29.4 FPS
Murray hasn’t been at his sharpest offensively but has maintained his usual numbers. While he’s unlikely to have big scoring performances in the coming games, his consistent play at his position is enough to make him a valuable fantasy asset.
Zach LaVine 20 PTS | 4 3PM | 5 REB | 28.0 FPS
LaVine’s production has noticeably dipped in recent weeks, but he managed to rebound with strong performances in two of his last three games, scoring 20+ points and hitting 4 threes in both. However, his contributions in other areas have remained underwhelming for a player of his caliber. While there’s a chance he continues his subpar overall performance in the upcoming games, he should still provide solid scoring numbers.
Malik Monk 5 PTS | 7 REB | 7 AST | 18.9 FPS
Monk showed some rust after being sidelined for three games with an illness. He struggled badly today, committing five turnovers, though he offset some of the setback with quality peripheral stats. Despite the rough performance, he’s expected to return to the starting lineup, see increased minutes, and should be able to bounce back strongly, especially with favorable matchups ahead.
Indiana Pacers Top Performers:
Aaron Nesmith 24 PTS | 6 REB | 2 BLK | 39.2 FPS
Nesmith has faced some struggles on offense, particularly from three in his last two games. However, he kept his output strong with a perfect 9-for-9 performance from the free-throw line. Before this month, Nesmith had never scored 20+ points in a game this season. Now, he’s already done it four times. While his offensive improvement is noticeable, he has also combined it with stronger play on defense, recording 10 rebounds and 5 stocks over his last two games. With a favorable schedule ahead, he’s poised to keep his momentum rolling.
Tyrese Haliburton 18 PTS | 2 REB | 11 AST | 31.9 FPS
Haliburton had a difficult time in their loss against the Thunder but got back on track today, recording his fourth double-double after missing three games due to a back issue. His performance remains strong overall, but there were some downsides: his defensive contribution was muted, and he uncharacteristically turned the ball over five times—well above his average of one turnover this month. In addition to that, with his minutes being carefully managed, his usual contributions in other categories may stay reduced in upcoming games.
Obi Toppin 19 PTS | 5 3PM | 7 REB | 26.4 FPS
Toppin has scored in double-digits in his last six games. While he may not reach this level of play consistently due to his limited role, he should remain a good option for both scoring and three-point shooting. However, he can still step up and deliver bigger performances in the upcoming games if they stay shorthanded.
Jarace Walker 15 PTS | 2 AST | 2 STL | 23.0 FPS
Walker has seen big minutes off the bench in his last three games and has taken full advantage, scoring in double digits each time. He’s been getting it done from the field and from three-point range, while also contributing in other areas. Even so, he probably won’t maintain this role unless several players remain sidelined or the games become one-sided.
Thomas Bryant 7 PTS | 7 REB | 1 BLK | 19.9 FPS
Bryant stepped into the starting lineup today with Turner unavailable and delivered a solid performance for his position. He’s certainly capable of more and should be able to produce bigger performances in the coming games, but only if Turner remains sidelined.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Pascal Siakam 11 PTS | 3 REB | 6 AST
Siakam’s scoring struggles have continued, recording 15 or fewer points in his last five outings. His shooting has been way off, and it’s been even worse from three, where he’s just 4-for-19 in recent games. He has tried to offset this in other areas, but his up-and-down play isn’t doing him any favors. However, with favorable matchups in their next two games, a bounce-back is more than expected.
