Despite piecing together one of the highest-scoring outputs of his career, Jalen Smith was in no mood to allow his night’s impressive highlight reel to be offense-exclusive. Living up to his reputation as a respected rim protector, Smith waits deliberately for a Memphis Grizzlies player to finish his Euro-step before sending it back across the globe for an emphatic rejection. Efficient, versatile, and consistent, Smith kept the hometown Indiana crowd roaring throughout the night, elevating his play with 19 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and three 3-pointers. Those contributions proved immeasurable in helping the Indiana Pacers survive without their All-Star guard for a resilient victory on January 28, 2024. · Jan 28, 2024