There was a chance the Spurs would make the 3rd QTR comeback they've been known for during their championship dynasty, but time would tell and it didn't look good. They were just 2-15 from long range after one half, with no one player able to catch a rhythm early. The ball movement was mostly there, but the shots just weren't falling. The defense needed improvement, also, as Indiana made 3PTers in transition. Victor Oladipo and Darren Collison were also going hard to the basket, making the Spurs foul Oladipo during some splendid reverse layups.
Then it happened, in a very-Spurs way, with a 10-0 run that brought them to 46-53, forcing the Pacers into a "badly needed timeout" as Mike Breen described from the sidelines. Meanwhile, Patty Mills was catching fire. He would finish with 19 points, matching that of Kawhi Leonard (who also had 2 steals). Rudy Gay was solid all game for the Spurs, finishing with 17 points, 8 rebounds and 5 steals, playing sharp down low, using his speed advantage and veteran experience. For Indiana, their shooting dwindled with Bojan Bogdanovic going 1-8 from 3PT.
That's not to say the Pacers gave up without a fight, as the game stayed close, except for another pair of crippling runs by San Antonio to end the contest. Before that point, Cory Joseph had 18 points, just behind 20 points from Collison (and 6 assists). Oladipo cooled off for just 10 points on 38% shooting. Prospect Myles Turner had 11 rebounds, but only 6 points, contending with Bismack Biyombo's 8 rebounds and tremendous 5 blocks, including one that knocked Bogdanovic to the floor in a heap at the rim. Pau Gasol had 11 points with 7 rebounds, including a nice 3PTer in transition that gave the Spurs a small lead to begin one of their huge breakouts. San Antonio amped-up their defense, for sure, causing 14 turnovers by Indiana.
Jeremy Lamb was the early defiant spark, finishing with 13 points off some terrific slams and a nice 3PTer late in the 4th quarter that all but sealed the come-from-behind, resilient victory. Iman Shumpert also had 2 steals. The Pacers tried to rally, but their shooting just wasn't there any longer as Leonard hit a dagger 3PTer in the final minute.