3 takeaways from the shorthanded Pacers' dramatic OT win over Steph Curry, Warriors

SAN FRANCISCO – The absence of starting swingman T.J. Warren, who continues recovering from a left foot fracture and has not played this season, has kept the Pacers from being at full strength all year. But on Thursday night at Golden State, Indiana’s depth was tested more than ever during the 2021-22 campaign. Starting backcourt Malcolm Brogdon and Caris LeVert were held out with a sore right Achilles and sore right calf, respectively, while starting frontcourt Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner were in street clothes, too, with a left ankle sprain and stress reaction in the left foot, respectively.

With all of Indiana’s projected starters sidelined, Carlisle turned to his bench, and the reserves withstood a herculean effort by Steph Curry and downed the Warriors for a dramatic 121-117 overtime victory on TNT. Here’s what stood out:

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Keifer Sykes comes up clutch

Keifer Sykes shot 2-for-9 in regulation, but when the overtime period came the 28-year-old undrafted rookie looked like a different player. Tied at 115, Sykes buried a deep 3-pointer to give Indiana the lead with 1:41 left in the extra frame. He came right back on the next play and scored a layup to extend the lead to five, and Indiana held on to secure back-to-back wins for the first time in over a month.

"Here's a guy that's proven he can bounce back from a rough start, and boy, did he ever," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "It was an amazing effort, amazing to watch."

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Pacers youth movement

Chris Duarte has had his ups and down, and after hitting the proverbial rookie wall earlier this season, he appears to have bounced back as a better player. The former Oregon standout was masterful against the Warriors, converting tough layups at the rim and splashing two 3-pointers. Duarte tied his career high with 27 points on 10-for-16 shooting, including four points in overtime.

"I think we did a great job: defensively, moving the ball, playing together, playing for each other," Duarte said. "Believing in each other, that was was the biggest part of the game. So just coming out with a win it's really, really good."

Duarte wasn’t the only young Indiana player to have a big night. Third-year center Goga Bitadze, who scored a career-high 17 points in a loss against the Clippers on Monday, started his first game of the season and got Indiana off to a strong start. He scored 10 of his 13 points in the first quarter and had nine rebounds and five assists, but he was ejected in the fourth quarter after being dunked on by Gary Payton II and getting in Payton’s face.

Rookie forward Isaiah Jackson took over the frontcourt in Bitadze’s absence, totaling career highs of 15 points, seven rebounds and three steals.

"The locker room is crazy. It's still crazy right now," Jackson said after the game. "It was a big team win for us. Good confidence booster for the rest of the West Coast trip we got. ... Can't get no better that that, beating Golden State at home with a packed crowd."

Justin Holiday’s clutch 3

Curry, the only unanimous regular-season MVP in NBA history, received MVP chants as he buried four straight free throws to give Golden State a 110-107 lead with 9.4 seconds left in regulation. But as the Warriors looked to pull out a close win, it was Justin Holiday who stopped them in their tracks. Holiday shook free of Curry and nailed the game-tying 3-pointer with 6.0 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Golden State went on a 5-0 run to start overtime, but Sykes and Duarte helped Indiana rally and overcome a 39-point outing by Curry.

"I'm really proud of this team and all of the guys that stepped up in the absence of some our main starters," Carlisle said. "It was just a beautiful game for us. Everyone stepped up into a larger level of responsibility and got the job done."

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: shorthanded pacers earn dramatic win over steph curry warriors