by TYLER HATHAWAY
Wednesday night saw the most productive showing for former Bishop Kearney standout Thomas Bryant this season, with the center registering a season-high 22 points on 9-for-16 shooting, eight rebounds, two steals, and an assist in 28 minutes as the Indiana Pacers defeated the Chicago Bulls 129-113. Bryant was thrust into the starting lineup to replace the injured Myles Turner and was also 2-for-4 behind the three-point line.
“He was great,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle told reporters after the game. “He played efficient, he played smart. He seemed to always be in the right place at the right time. He had a couple of important put-backs in key moments of the game. He brings a real positive energy just as a person out there too along with being a heck of a player. I don’t know that we win the game without him.”
Bryant, who’s in his eighth year in the NBA, was traded from Miami to Indiana on December 15th. Since then, he is averaging 6.5 PPG and 3.5 RPG on 12.8 MPG. The Pacers are 8-3 since the move.
“They’ve embraced me so much just from when I first stepped in of trying to get me into their offense and their defense and communicating with me throughout the whole time,” Bryant said of his new team.
Bryant is one of three former Section V athletes to currently be playing in the NBA, with the others being Jalen Pickett (Aquinas) and Isaiah Stewart (McQuaid). Pickett is a second-year player with the Denver Nuggets who is averaging 3.1 PPG in 8.0 MPG. Pickett knocked down two three-pointers in the Nuggets win on Wednesday against the Clippers. Stewart is in his fifth season with the Detroit Pistons and is averaging 5.8 PPG paired with 5.9 RPG while playing about 21 minutes a night. On Wednesday, the center produced six points, four rebounds, four blocks, and two assists in Piston victory.
Indiana (20-18) looks to win its fifth straight game and hosts Golden State (19-18) at 7:00 PM on Friday night.
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