Matthews' late tip helps Pacers rally past Thunder

[March 15, 2019]  Wesley Matthews' tip-in with 1.8 seconds left lifted the Indiana Pacers to a 108-106 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder at home Thursday night.

Indiana ended the game on a 23-10 run to finish off a big comeback.

Russell Westbrook had a chance to win the game for the Thunder in the last second, but his 3-pointer from the top of the key hit the front of the rim and bounced away.

Just before that, a series of turnovers gave the Pacers the ball in a tie game with virtually no difference between the game clock and shot clock.

Bojan Bogdanovic elevated over Steven Adams in the closing seconds, but his shot rolled off the rim. Matthews slid around the Thunder defense to grab the rebound and put it home for the game-winner.

Indiana trailed by 19 early in the third quarter before creeping back into the game. By early in the fourth quarter, the Pacers had trimmed the lead to five before the Thunder extended the lead to double figures again.

But Indiana didn't go away.

The Pacers ripped off a 19-5 run late in the fourth, taking the lead for the first time since the first quarter on Myles Turner's dunk with 2:49 remaining.

After another Pacers bucket, Paul George hit a 3-pointer with 1:49 remaining to tie the game.

Domantas Sabonis led the Pacers with 26 points, and Bogdanovic added 23. Indiana won its second consecutive game.

Pacers forward Bojan Bogdanovic (44) reacts after making a three point shot as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George (13) watches during the fourth quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

George scored 36 points, going 6 of 11 from behind the 3-point line for the Thunder. Westbrook finished with 19 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists for his second consecutive triple-double.

After going 4 for 7 from behind the 3-point line in the first half, George didn't attempt another until less than six minutes remained in the game.

It was just George's second game as a visitor in Indiana. In last year's first return since being traded in the 2017 offseason, George struggled, making just 3 of 14 from the field. But George quickly got into an offensive rhythm Thursday to help the Thunder jump on top early.

Oklahoma City took a 63-50 lead into the half.

--Field Level Media

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