Nov

28

Missed free throw allows Pacers to escape with win over Nuggets 112-110

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under Main 

Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger reacts after hitting a basket to put the Pacers ahead of the Denver Nuggets late in the fourth quarter of the Pacers? 112-110 victory over the Nuggets on Tuesday night.

The Indiana Pacers may want to add Denver Nuggets guard J.R. Smith to their Christmas card list this season. Smith’s missed free throw with 2.7 seconds left in the game allowed the Pacers to escape with a 112-110 win over the Nuggets at Denver. Not unlike their previous meeting in Indianapolis on November 10, the Pacers started fast; Indiana scored the first thirteen points of the game and led 21-3 midway through the first quarter. But Nuggets reserve guard Anthony Carter scored 6 points, sparking a Denver rally and reducing the Pacers lead to 27-25 in the quarter.Denver tied the score at 37 early in the 2nd period, then took their first lead when forward Eduardo Najera hit consecutive 3-pointers to make the score 45-44 with 4:22 left in the half. The Nuggets led 48-46 with 2:53 left in the half, but the Pacers would go on a 10-2 run to take a 56-50 lead into halftime. Indiana would increase their lead to 64-52, but the Nuggets charged back, going on a 23-4 run, capped by Allen Iverson’s 9 points and Carter’s 3-pointer to retake the lead 75-68.

Indiana trailed 83-76 with 50 seconds left in the third period, but scored the final 6 points of the period, reducing the lead to one. The Pacers would take control to begin the 4th period, going ahead on F Mike Dunleavy’s 3-pointer with 7:22 left in the game. But Denver’s Iverson and J.R. Smith hit consecutive 3’s to pull to 107-103. After Pacers guard Jamal Tinsley hit a free throw, Iverson’s layup made it 108-105.

Pacers center Shawne Williams converted 2 FT’s, but the Niggets’ Smith hit another 3 to pull to 110-108 with 12.5 seconds left. Indiana’s Williams’ FT made it a 3-point lead for Indiana, but Dunleavy fouled Smith behind the 3-point arc. Smith hit the first 2 free throws, but missed the third, which sealed the win for the Pacers.

5 Pacers scored in double-figures, led by Dunleavy with 30 points, while Williams, in a rare start, adding 21 with 11 rebounds. Tinsley and reserve guard Marquis Daniels chipping in 15 each; Tinsley also had 8 rebounds and 11 assists. Denver was led by Iverson with 26 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists; Carmelo Anthony poured in 25, while Carter chipped in 17, along with 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Indiana (7-8) flies west to Portland to take on the Trail Blazers on Wednesday, while Denver (9-6) travels to Los Angeles to challenge the Lakers on Thursday.


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