INDIANAPOLIS -- Even the 3-pointer Bennedict Mathurin took in the last two seconds of Monday's first half was in rhythm and a product of getting ahead of the play. Given the situation, at least, it was a philosophical match to the sort of shots Pacers coach Rick Carlisle has been asking Mathurin to take for the last three seasons.
Mathurin had got caught up in a ball screen on the previous Spurs possession which allowed his man -- rookie Dylan Harper -- to score with 5.1 seconds to go. But Mathurin broke up the left side of the floor, took a kick-ahead pass from Pacers point guard Andrew Nembhard , spun around and took one dribble before pulling up in front of Spurs 7-foot center Luke Kornet to drill a 3-pointer in his face from 33 feet out with 0.2 seconds left before halftime.