The Indiana Pacers, with several starters missing, won a close game against the Sacramento Kings, 126-121, Thursday night. Bennedict Mathurin scored 25 points and T.J. McConnell had 20 points and 10 assists.

The Pacers' newly acquired star player Pascal Siakam is still awaiting his team debut after the trade with Toronto, while his fellow All-Star Tyrese Halliburton missed his fifth straight game with a hamstring injury. Also out with injuries were Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembard and Isaiah Jackson.

Despite the absences, the Pacers took a comfortable lead in the first half, closing the half on a 12-2 run and taking a 70-57 lead into the intermission. Kevin Huerter scored seven straight points in the second half to try and spark a Sacramento Kings comeback, but the Pacers continued to maintain control and led 122-106 with just over two minutes left in the game.

However, the Kings refused to go down without a fight. They launched a 15-2 run, capped by a Malik Monk steal and layup, to close the gap to just three points with 32 seconds left in the game. De'Aaron Fox had a chance to tie the game with a 3-pointer, but his shot missed. Monk grabbed the rebound for Sacramento, but he missed both free throws and the Kings' comeback fell short.

Huerter scored a career-high 31 points for the Sacramento Kings, while Keegan Murray contributed 27 points and nine rebounds. Damontas Sabonis had 21 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his 12th triple-double of the season.

The Pacers were missing their starters but showed resilience to win their 10th in the last 13 games. Myles Turner and Jalen Smith provided invaluable support with 18 and 17 points respectively, while McConnell's play was instrumental in the team's offence.

On the other hand, the Kings, who extended their losing streak to four games, showed flashes of fighting back but were ultimately undone by missed free throws and key turnovers.

This thrilling encounter showcased the resilience of the Pacers and the fighting spirit of the Kings, even in the face of adversity. With the arrival of Siakam and the return of Halliburton, the Pacers will be a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference, while the Kings look to break their losing streak and get back to their winning ways.