by Murat Karul
The Indiana Pacers made a significant acquisition in Bruce Brown, primarily for his defensive prowess. However, his impressive offensive performance on Wednesday night served as a pleasant surprise. Brown made his Pacers debut by scoring 24 points, including a career-high six 3-pointers, contributing to a resounding 143-120 victory over the Washington Wizards. This game marked the highest-scoring season opener in the franchise’s history, surpassing the previous record of 140 points set in 2017 against Brooklyn.
Brown, who joined the Pacers during the offseason, is optimistic about the team’s potential for more high-scoring performances. He credited the fast-paced and dynamic nature of their offense, emphasizing that anyone on the team can be a scoring threat.
Despite their preseason focus on defense, the Pacers showcased a remarkable offensive display to kick off the season, providing NBA Commissioner Adam Silver with an entertaining spectacle.
Tyrese Haliburton had a standout performance with 20 points and 11 assists, while Andrew Nembhard recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 assists. The Pacers connected on 20 of 43 three-point attempts, with eight players scoring in double figures, coming just shy of tying franchise records for three-pointers made and total points in a home game.
For the Washington Wizards, this game marked a challenging start to the post-Bradley Beal era. Despite leading 39-34 after the first quarter, they struggled offensively in the remaining three quarters, unable to keep up with the Pacers’ pace and tempo. Kyle Kuzma led the Wizards with 25 points, and Jordan Poole added 18, but their 3-point shooting was not enough to secure a win.
The Pacers made significant momentum swings in the second and third quarters, going on an 11-4 run in the second quarter to take the lead and extending it with a nine-point run in the third quarter. Washington was unable to recover from these surges and fell behind.
The game was attended by Commissioner Adam Silver, who also announced changes to the format of this season’s All-Star Game, set to be hosted in Indianapolis on February 18, marking the first time the city has hosted the game since 1985.
Up next, the Wizards will play their home opener against the Memphis Grizzlies, while the Pacers will visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday.
