The AP reports: The way Rajon Rondo played, there was no way the Boston Celtics could lose to the Indiana Pacers again. Rondo notched his first career triple-double and Ray Allen scored 31 points, leading the Celtics over the Pacers, 114-96 on Wednesday night for their 10th straight victory… Rondo scored 16 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and handed out a career-high 17 assists. Garnett added 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Celtics, who matched their longest winning streak since their 2007-08 championship season, a 10-game run from Feb. 24-March 12… Danny Granger led the Pacers with 20 points, while Troy Murphy chipped in with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Category: Indiana Pacers Blog
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Dec 2: Pacers 118, Lakers 117
The AP reports: Troy Murphy and Danny Granger spent most of Tuesday night working to keep the Pacers close to the Lakers. They spent those final few seconds like everyone else in Conseco Fieldhouse — watching, waiting and wondering if Murphy’s tantalizing tip would actually drop through the net. It did—just as the buzzer sounded. Murphy’s game-winner completed an improbable comeback and gave the Pacers a desperately needed 118-117 victory after replay reviews confirmed the basket was good… Granger, who scored 32 points, and Murphy, who had 16 points and 17 rebounds, methodically led their teammates back by making big baskets and getting the ball to open teammates. The Pacers (7-10) also allowed just 16 points over the final 12 minutes… Kobe Bryant finished with 28 points, becoming the second-fastest player in league history to reach 22,000 career points. Wilt Chamberlain was one day younger than Bryant when he reached that milestone.
Pacers need low post game
The Indiana Pacers are doing about as well as expected, with 6 wins and 10 losses. They’ve played without Mike Dunleavy, who is normally their second best player and would at worst be third best this season depending on how much you like point guard T.J. Ford. But they have one problem that has been the case for a while now. The Indianapolis Star (Mike Wells) reports:
The biggest issue I have with the Pacers offense is the same one I had during the summer – they don’t have anybody to score for them in the post. Starters Troy Murphy and Rasho Nesterovic are perimeter big men. The Pacers tend to settle for jump shots too often when the game gets tight. Roy Hibbert may be their best low-post scoring threat. That should tell you something because he’s raw offensively.
Marquis Daniels, playing only one minute less per game this season than Danny Granger, has stepped up, shooting 46.0% for 16.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. Assuming Dunleavy’s knee eventually heals enough for him to play, Daniels will lose many of those minutes. But still, he should be proud of his performances so far this season.
Nov 29: Magic 110, Pacers 96
The AP reports: Dwight Howard had a season-high 32 points and 21 rebounds and added four blocks against the Pacers, who tried everything but shackles against the Magic center. It was his first 20-rebound performance this season and fourth time in his career that he had 30-plus points and 20-plus rebounds… Rashard Lewis finished 24 points, Turkoglu 22 and Johnson a season-high 16 for the Magic, who had a 14-point lead in the middle of the second quarter and were never seriously challenged in the second half… Danny Granger and Marquis Daniels tried to help the Pacers keep up with the Magic, but the Pacers could never get enough defensive stops to overcome the a 14-point second quarter and 22-point third quarter deficits. Granger finished with 27 points, Daniels had 21, Troy Murphy added 13 and Roy Hibbert had 10.
Nov 28: Bobcats 115, Pacers 108 OT
The AP reports: Raymond Felton made sure the Charlotte Bobcats earned their first road victory of the season. Felton tied a career high with 31 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter and overtime, and the Bobcats beat the Indiana Pacers 115-108 on Friday night… Felton, who finished 11-of-21 from the field and added seven assists, has seen the Bobcats improve every game under Brown… “Raymond won that game for us tonight,” said Charlotte guard Jason Richardson, who added 21 points in his first game back from knee surgery. “He got the game ball.” Augustin had 17 points, Gerald Wallace added 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Emeka Okafor finished with 14 points and 20 rebounds for the Bobcats, who won for just the second time in their past seven games… Danny Granger scored a season-high 35 points, and Marquis Daniels and Ford each had 20 for the Pacers (6-9), who lost their third home game by seven points or less.
Nov 25: Mavs 109, Pacers 106
The AP reports: The Dallas Mavericks were missing No. 2 scorer Josh Howard, and Dirk Nowitzki was getting extra attention from Indiana’s defense. So Jason Terry and Jason Kidd came to the rescue. Terry scored 16 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter and Kidd hit a pair of key 3-pointers to help the Mavericks rally from a 13-point second-half deficit for a 109-106 victory over the Pacers on Tuesday night… Nowitzki added 24 points and 12 rebounds and Antoine Wright scored a career-high 24 for the Mavericks, who played without Howard for a third straight game because of a left ankle injury… Kidd finished with 11 points and 13 assists as Dallas won its second consecutive home game after dropping the first four… Danny Granger’s 22 points and Troy Murphy’s 21 points and 14 rebounds led the Pacers. Brandon Rush added 18 points off the bench and ex-Maverick Marquis Daniels contributed 14 points and 11 rebounds for Indiana, which has lost three in a row and five of six.
Nov 22: Heat 109, Pacers 100
The AP reports: Dwyane Wade shook off flu-like symptoms to score 38 points, and the Heat outscored Indiana by 21 after halftime to beat the Pacers 109-100 on Saturday night… Shawn Marion had 18 points, nine rebounds and six steals, while Michael Beasley scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half for Miami. Udonis Haslem added 16 points for the Heat, who limited Indiana to 37 percent shooting in the second half on the way to outscoring the Pacers 61-40 in the final 24 minutes… Marquis Daniels scored 25 points, and Danny Granger added 23 for the Pacers, who fell to 1-4 on the road. Rasho Nesterovic scored 13 points, T.J. Ford added 11 and Brandon Rush had 10 for Indiana… Daniels scored 10 points in the first quarter, helping stake Indiana to a quick 31-20 edge. The Pacers opened the lead up to as many as 15 in the second, before settling for a 60-48 edge at the break—matching the most points Miami has allowed in any half this season.
Nov 18: Pacers 113, Hawks 96
The AP reports: Danny Granger scored 34 points to lead the Indiana Pacers past the slumping Atlanta Hawks 113-96 on Tuesday night. Rasho Nesterovic scored 21 points, Jeff Foster had 12 and Troy Murphy added 10 points and 19 rebounds for the Pacers (5-5), who won their fifth consecutive home game against Atlanta. Joe Johnson finished with 25 points, Marvin Williams scored 14 and Mike Bibby and Maurice Evans each scored 13 for the Hawks (6-4). After a 6-0 start, Atlanta has lost four straight.
Nov 15: Bulls 104, Pacers 91
The AP reports: Derrick Rose showed another dimension to his already impressive game and led the Chicago Bulls to a victory just before they start a tough seven-game road trip. Besides his quick first step and fearless forays to the basket, Rose displayed his 3-point shot Saturday night while scoring 23 points and helping the Bulls beat the Indiana Pacers 104-91… Rose finished 3-of-5 on 3-pointers after going 2-for-9 in the first nine games… T.J. Ford led the Pacers with 16 points. Ford had a pair of baskets, one after a steal, as Indiana closed within two in the fourth before the Bulls took off… Nocioni scored 20 points and had 11 rebounds, Gordon chipped in 19 points and Rose added eight assists. Danny Granger had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Troy Murphy 12 points and 13 boards for the Pacers.
Nov 14: Sixers 94, Pacers 92
The AP reports: Philadelphia 76ers coach Maurice Cheeks gave his team a simple yet effective message after the first quarter against Indiana. His players responded Friday night, overcoming a 26-point deficit to beat the Pacers 94-92. “I told them to keep fighting,” Cheeks said following a dismal first quarter, which ended with the Pacers ahead 38-13. “We just hung in there, we didn’t stop.” The 76ers took their coach’s words to heart, tying it at 90 on Andre Iguodala’s free throw with 3:14 left in the fourth quarter. They gained their first lead, 92-90, on Andre Miller’s layup… Thaddeus Young had 25 points and 10 rebounds, Brand added 14 points and 15 rebounds, and Iguodala finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Philadelphia (4-5), which snapped a three-game losing streak against the Pacers… Danny Granger had 18 points, Daniels finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and T.J. Ford added 12 points and seven assists for Indiana (4-4). The Pacers tried to make sense of the loss.