Restoring the NBA’s leading score since a little over a week ago? Not James Harden. Not LeBron James. Not Giannis Antetokounmpo.
With 39 more points on shots 15-of-22 in a 116-111 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, the Indiana Pacers are ahead of TJ Warren, who stumped his average to 34.8 points on a shaky 60.5% shooting, including 55.6% of 3
Pacers star Victor Oladipo said his teammate “is on another planet at the moment”, but Warren has a much more groundbreaking explanation for his recent success.
“It’s just me time to work in and work in the offseason,” Warren said. “By the time I just stay locked up, stay in love with the game and just be myself when I’m there. I have a good support cast, good family and friends, so that helps a lot. And the organization, the Pacers cloud me with open arms and brought me inside, so I’m just thankful for everything right now. “
Warren dropped a bubble-high 53 in the Pacers’ opening game, and he has scored at least 30 in four of the five games the Pacers have played. Unlike the one “off” game in which he scored 16 points on 7-of-20 shots – in the Pacers’ only loss so far – Warren averaged 39.5 points on a scandalous 66% shot.
Against the Lakers, Warren made it to both ends, and Anthony Davis defended for the majority of the game, while also leading the Pacers again in the score. And Warren went through a 7-0 by himself in the final 90 seconds, including the dagger 3 to put the Pacers on six with 10.6 seconds left.
“At the end of the day, I could have done something and made a play, but you have to feed the hot hand; this is basketball,” Oladipo said. “If a man plays well on our team, then give him the ball, give him the chance and let him know that I have the confidence in him to make a play in the stretch. If that ever happens, who will you be now? protect? “
What’s up with TJ Warren’s bubble version? Does he have a new routine? Other food?
“I actually just took more time for myself,” Warren said. “Meditate more.”
The Pacers’ next game is against the Miami Heat, who have some prior meat between Warren and Jimmy Butler. In January, they shook hands and talked serious trash with each other, with Warren escaping while Butler blew him kisses as he left the courtroom. With that context in mind, Oladipo was asked if revamping Butler and Heat could boost Warren’s motivation to another level.
“Hey look, TJ Warren is currently on another planet,” Oladipo said. “It does not matter what I say, it does not matter what you say, it does not matter what anyone in the street says – Johnny, Barley, Ms. Susie – he’s locked up right now. I do need to encourage him to what to do; he will put the ball in the edge, regardless of who is there. “
The game against the Heat is significant, at least in terms of numerical seeding in the Eastern Conference, with Pacers having an identical record as theirs. With Warren scorching and the recent beef history with Butler – on top of the implications and a possible future matchup in a playoff series – Monday’s game against Miami will be one to watch.
With Domantas Sabonis out with a foot injury and the initial uncertainty over Oladipo’s health and status, the Pacers are quietly one of the bubble’s biggest surprises – largely due to Warren’s rise to bubble stardom. It’s not like it’s completely out of nowhere. Warren averaged 19 points a game and had five 30-point games for the rematch. He has always been a capable, high-volume scorer, but the big change is that the Pacers are actively looking for Warren to be a primary scorer.
“He just plays in the stream of the game,” said Indiana coach Nate McMillan. “He doesn’t force anything. He takes shots he can make.”
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