NBA News: Pacers Coach Hints At Key To Beating Bucks After Upset Of Sixers

The Indiana Pacers punched a ticket to the play-in round after a second-half defensive masterpiece in their 103-94 upset of the top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday.

A tweak in the Pacers' defensive rotation proved wonders for head coach Nate Bjorkgren as his side limited the Sixers to 32 second-half points, including only 13 in the third quarter.

Domantas Sabonis was integral in the upset, finishing with a triple-double of 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 15 assists.

More than his production, Bjorkgren gave credit to Sabonis' defense.

"We were much better in transition [defense] as the game went on. We tried to put more size on [Ben] Simmons and [Tobias] Harris as the game went," the first-year head coach said.

"You saw Domas [Sabonis] guarding Harris, guarding Simmons tonight. We just had more length and more size, and I just thought that bigger line-up against that Philadelphia team tonight was the one that worked."

Sabonis did cover more ground, and his length helped in shutting down the Sixers' top wing players.

He finished a plus-16, behind Caris LeVert who had team-highs of 24 points and a plus-17.

"We defended that way in the third and fourth quarter. It was an entire team effort for putting that," Bjorkgren added.

The Pacers will have a difficult remaining schedule starting with the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.

Bjorkgren seemed geared towards doing the same defensive strategy against Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and company.

"You just got to keep teaching and coaching and our team knows the importance of transition defense," he stated.

Coincidentally, the Sixers and Bucks rank third and fourth in the league, respectively in fastbreak points.

"It is just one of those things that we have to be great in our initial defense," Bjorkgren said.

"We talked about trying to be the best that we can in transition, trying the best that we can that we can in not giving up offensive rebounds and protecting the paint."

Reportedly under the hot seat already in just his first year as Indiana's lead tactician, Bjorkgren's shrewd coaching may just give a new lease on life for his stint.

The Pacers have won three out of their last four meetings and have momentum as they wind up their regular season campaign.