Jay Huff explodes with 29 points in Pacers victory over Pelicans

Center Jay Huff delivered the performance of his career Friday night in Indianapolis, scoring 29 points and grabbing 9 rebounds to guide the Indiana Pacers to a convincing 127-119 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. The 7-foot-1 giant shattered his previous career-high of 22 points, set last season with the Memphis Grizzlies.

An exceptional offensive performance for Huff

Huff, who was averaging just 8.4 points before this game, was simply unstoppable. He converted 13 of his 17 field goal attempts, including 3 three-pointers on 6 attempts, demonstrating remarkable offensive versatility for a player of his size. Acquired by Indiana in a trade with Memphis during the offseason, the center confirms his successful adaptation to his new system.

Pascal Siakam also shined with 27 points, including 20 scored in the first half, while Andrew Nembhard added 19 points and 10 rebounds. Aaron Nesmith and Quenton Jackson each contributed 12 points, allowing the Pacers to complete their homestand with a record of 3 wins and 1 loss.

For the Pelicans, Zion Williamson led the offense with 27 points thanks to a remarkable 10 for 12 from the field and 7 for 10 from the free-throw line. The power forward was perfect in the first quarter with 8 makes on 8 attempts for 21 points. Trey Murphy III (22 points), Saddiq Bey (20 points), and Jeremiah Fears (16 points) also contributed offensively.

The Pacers took control of the game in the second quarter, turning a two-point deficit into a 73-66 lead at halftime. Those 73 points represent Indiana’s best offensive first half of the season. The home team maintained their lead with a score of 102-93 after three quarters before securing the win. This fourth victory in five games improves the Pacers’ home record to 8-16, while the Pelicans show a disappointing 3-16 on the road.