'Business as usual': Undrafted Pacers rookie Terry Taylor scores first NBA points
INDIANAPOLIS — It was a footnote to nearly everyone at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday night, as the Hornets defeated the Pacers 158-126 — scoring the most points Indiana has ever allowed in a game — but it wasn't a footnote to Terry Taylor.
It was a milestone.
When the undrafted rookie caught a pass from fellow undrafted rookie Duane Washington Jr. and scored a layup with 8:14 remaining in the game, it marked the first points of Taylor's NBA career.
"It's kind of surreal because coming from Bowling Green, Kentucky, not many kids even get the chance to do that, so me being the first from my city, I think, it's just a blessing," Taylor said. "God put me there, and I couldn't be more blessed."
Taylor finished with four points on 1-for-1 shooting and sank both of his free-throw attempts Wednesday. He also had five rebounds and two assists in his third NBA game.
Taylor has been on a steady climb with the Pacers, signing a two-way contract with the team last month after starring with the franchise's G League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. The 6-5 forward has split time between the Pacers and Mad Ants this season, and his schedule this week has been jam packed.
Taylor joined the Pacers for the last three games of their five-game Western Conference trip, which ended Monday night at New Orleans. The team's return flight landed in Indianapolis at roughly 2 a.m. Tuesday, and while most of the players had the rest of the day off, 10 hours later Taylor took the court for the Mad Ants and scored a career-high 39 points in a dramatic 130-129 overtime win against the Maine Celtics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
"I ain't never done nothing like it," Taylor said of the quick turnaround. "But that's kind of my thing with the two-way (contract). I'm kind of on call. I ain't never experienced nothing like it, but I'm grateful for the opportunity and the chance to do both."
Taylor is averaging a G League-high 29.8 points, 12.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists through four regular-season games, while shooting 57.1% from the field, 50.0% on 3-pointers and 81.8% at the free-throw-line.
His team swapping continued Wednesday when he returned to Gainbridge Fieldhouse and played nine minutes for the Pacers, the most ever in his budding NBA career.
Indiana coach Rick Carlisle credited senior director of basketball analytics Spencer Anderson for scouting Taylor, a two-time Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year at Austin Peay. Once Taylor was brought in by the Pacers, Carlisle said he found a way to stick around.
"Spencer identified him, coming out of college (last year), as a guy that had very favorable analytic data, and we brought him in for a workout," Carlisle sad. "There was not much interest in him around the league, so he came in on an Exhibition 10 (deal) and ended up earning a 10-day (contract).
"(Wednesday) night was a big moment for him. It's a big moment to get your first NBA points, but with him I think he viewed it just as business as usual."
Taylor said his loved ones are proud of his latest NBA achievement, but there's one person, his littler brother Christopher, who will never be satisfied.
"That's my biggest critic, man," Taylor said, laughing. "You know he loves me more than anybody, but he's my biggest critic. He'll tell me anything just to get me going and keep me humble, so I appreciate him for that. You need people like that in your corner."
Follow IndyStar Pacers beat writer James Boyd on Twitter: @RomeovilleKid. Reach him via email: jboyd1@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Undrafted Pacers rookie Terry Taylor scores first NBA points
