Nov

22

Minus O’Neal, Pacers Exterminate Hornets 105-93

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under Main 

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Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger, left, shoots over New Orleans Hornets center Melvin Ely in the second period of the Indiana Pacers-New Orleans Hornets game, played Wednesday night. Indiana beat New Orleans 105-93.

?Whether the Indiana Pacers missed forward Jermaine O’Neal tonight may be up for discussion, especially after his replacement, F/C Troy Murphy, picked up the slack.? But to be fair, O’Neal tweaked his knee against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.? Five Pacers scored in double-digits as Indiana defeated the New Orleans Hornets 105-93 at New Orleans.

Neither team shot especially well; Indiana shot 46% from the field, while New Orleans shot even worse at 39%.? The Hornets held the lead for most of the first half, but they shot cold, allowing the Pacers to take a 40-39 lead on 2 free throws by Murphy.? He also hit two 3-pointers near the end of the half, but New Orleans F Morris Peterson drained a near-midcourt shot to give the Hornets a 55-54 halftime lead.

Indiana outscored New Orleans 28-17 to build an 82-72 lead, a lead they would not give up.? The Hornets were wtihout starting C Tyson Chandler, who hyperextended his right knee during the Orlando game on Monday. Indiana was led by Murphy with 23 points and 9 rebounds, while F Danny Granger pitched in with 22 and 9 boards; guards Mike Dunleavy and Jamaal Tinsley chipped in 18 each.? Tinsley also dished out 13 assists.?

New Orleans’ high scorer was F David West with 23 points and 8 rebounds, while F Peja Stojakovic added 17 in a losing effort.? Indiana (5-7), winners of 2 of their last 3, return home to host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night, while New Orleans (9-4) visits Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Jazz, also on Friday night.


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