Home » Sports » Basketball
Pacers ground Rockets to halt skid
Print Edition
The Pacers responded to Friday night’s challenge like a champion.
After taking two big hits this week — losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season — Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. Paul George finished with 24 points and nine rebounds, Lance Stephenson added 16 points and six assists, and the defense completely shut down Houston in a 114-81 rout.
“This team doesn’t like losing,” coach Frank Vogel said. “We talked about playing mad for four quarters.”
By following Vogel’s plan, the Pacers continued to add to an already strong resume.
While some try to discount Indiana’s quick start because they’re playing in the struggling Eastern Conference, the Pacers still have a firm grip on the conference’s best record (21-5) and have already beaten three of the Western Conference’s top teams — the Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs and now the Rockets.
The way Indiana has been winning is just as impressive.
Despite taking Dwight Howard’s best shot on Friday — Houston’s center had 19 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks — Indiana still managed to manhandle the usually potent Rockets’ offense.
Houston (17-10) entered the game second in scoring average and third in field goal percentage. It left Indianapolis having shot 38.1 percent in the game, compiling a season-low in points and losing to Indiana for the fourth straight time.
Even James Harden, the league’s No. 6 scorer, couldn’t get started. He was just 3 of 14 from the field and scored only 12 points, primarily against George. It was a disturbing twist for Houston, which had won three of its previous five, had beaten Chicago by 25 points last Wednesday and was trying to keep pace with the division-leading San Antonio.
Elsewhere in the National Basketball Association, it was: 76ers 121, Nets 120 (in overtime); Cavaliers 114, Bucks 111 (OT); Heat 122, Kings 103; hawks 118, Jazz 85; Bobcats 116, Pistons 106; Raptors 109, Mavericks 108 (OT); Suns 103, Nuggets 99; and Lakers 104, Timberwolves 91.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
