Bogdanovic, Pacers top Towns, Timberwolves

[March 01, 2019]  Bojan Bogdanovic gave Indiana the lead for good on a layup with 3:57 remaining, and the Pacers used a strong defensive finish to hold on for a 122-115 victory Thursday night over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Indianapolis.

Bogdanovic finished with a season-high 37 points, helping the Pacers overcome a season-best 42-point explosion by Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns for a ninth win in their last 12 games.

Indiana won the game by outscoring Minnesota 16-8 after the Timberwolves had taken a 107-106 lead with 5:58 to go.

Bogdanovic's layup put the Pacers on top 109-107, and his 3-pointer 40 seconds later created a five-point margin.

He capped his big night with a pair of hoops in the final 1:30 as the Pacers held the Timberwolves at arm's length.

The tight finish capped a fourth quarter in which there were six lead changes and two ties.

Minnesota's last lead came at 107-106 with 5:58 to go on a hoop by Towns. But the Timberwolves didn't make another shot until they'd fallen eight points behind with just 26.7 seconds left, going 0-for-3 on two-pointers and 0-for-5 on threes.

Their only three points during a critical 12-3 Pacers run came on two free throws by Taj Gibson and one by Jeff Teague, but they also missed three foul shots down the stretch.

In recording the fifth 40-point game of his career, Towns shot 15-for-29, but missed four of his last five attempts, including three 3-pointers.

Timberwolves guard Derrick Rose (25) shoots the ball over Indiana Pacerscenter Kyle O'Quinn (10) during the first quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Reserve T.J. Leaf backed Bogdanovic with 18 points for the Pacers. Thaddeus Young (15 points), Wes Matthews (12) and Kyle O'Quinn (10) also scored in double figures for Indiana.

Towns completed a double-double with a game-high 17 rebounds for the Timberwolves. Teague and Anthony Tolliver chipped in with 13 points apiece for Minnesota while Gibson had 12, Andrew Wiggins 11 and Derrick Rose 10.

Both teams had double-digit leads in the first three quarters, which ended with the Pacers clinging to a 92-90 advantage.

The Pacers made the big run of the first 36 minutes, turning a 12-point deficit into a 64-60 halftime lead with a 24-8 burst. Young had 11 points and Bogdanovic 10 in the run.

--Field Level Media

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