Grant Ayton Trail Blazers 114-110 victory Pacers

Jerami Grant and Deandre Ayton lead Portland Trail Blazers to 114-110 victory over Indiana Pacers. Malcolm Brogdon seals the win.

The Portland Trail Blazers emerged victorious with a 114-110 win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night, thanks to standout performances from Jerami Grant and Deandre Ayton. Grant led the way with an impressive 34 points, while Ayton contributed 22 points and 13 rebounds. Malcolm Brogdon also played a crucial role for the Trail Blazers, adding 24 points, including a game-sealing basket in the closing seconds.

On the other side, Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 33 points, while Bruce Brown, Myles Turner, and Bennedict Mathurin each chipped in with 11 points. However, the Pacers struggled with 20 turnovers and a poor shooting performance from beyond the arc, going 8-for-33 from 3-point range.

The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading the lead throughout. Rookie Scoot Henderson's 12-footer at the end of the third quarter tied the game at 83-all, setting the stage for a tense final period. Grant's driving floater with 6:36 left to play put the Trail Blazers ahead for good at 96-94.

The Trail Blazers overcame an early deficit, trailing by four after the first quarter before taking a 65-60 halftime lead. Portland's sharpshooting from beyond the arc, sinking 7 of 11 3-pointers in the first half, gave them the edge. Brogdon, who previously played three seasons with the Pacers, led the Trail Blazers with 15 points in the opening half.

The game was not without its share of injuries, as Pacers forward Jalen Smith had to be helped to the locker room with an apparent knee injury in the third quarter. However, Aaron Nesmith returned for the Pacers after missing the previous two games with a wrist sprain.

In terms of shooting percentages, the Pacers finished the game shooting 47.7%, while the Trail Blazers were close behind at 47.1%.

Looking ahead, the Trail Blazers will face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, while the Pacers have upcoming games against the Miami Heat on Thursday and Saturday.