Granger, Murphy Keep Pacers’ Playoff Hopes Alive; Beat Nets 123-115

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under Main

Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger, left, moves around New Jersey Nets forward Richard Jefferson in the first half of their game, played Friday night. Indiana beat New Jersey 123-115. ?

The Indiana Pacers have as of late managed to remain relevant in the Eastern Conference playoff race; perhaps one of the reasons for the resurgence is Troy Murphy.? Against the New Jersey Nets on Friday night, Murphy, along with Danny Granger, combined for 47 points as the Pacers beat the Nets 123-115 at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Indiana initially held a comfortable lead in the second quarter, but New Jersey responded by closing the first half with a 28-7 run to go into halftime with a 63-56 lead; the Pacers opened the third quarter with an 8-0 run - including two treys by Murphy - to take a 64-63 lead.? The lead changed several times in the period until Indiana’s Travis Diener hit a jumper in the last seconds of the quarter to give the Pacers a 92-91 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Pacers’ Mike Dunleavy made a jumper then a 3-pointer at the beginning of the last period to give Indiana a 97-91 lead; New?Jersey reduced the Pacers’ lead to 104-102, but a pair of short-range baskets by Indiana’s Marquis Daniels made it 108-102 with 2:40 left in the game.? Granger fouled out with 1:47?remaining, and New Jersey’s Vince Carter made a pair of free throws to reduce Indiana’s lead to 4; Indiana’s Kareem Rush hit a trey with 1:19 left to boost Indiana’s lead to 112-104, icing the game.

Indiana’s leading scorer was Granger with 26 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 blocks while Murphy had a solid outing with 21 along with four 3-pointers, 17 rebounds, a steal and 2 blocks; Dunleavy added 19, along with 5 treys, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and a block.? New Jersey was led by Carter with 33 points, 4 treys, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and a block while Devin Harris scored 27 with four 3-pointers, 4 rebounds, 9 assists and a steal; Richard Jefferson added 19 with 2 rebounds, an assist, 2 steals and a block while Josh Boone and Marcus Williams chipped in with 15 each - with Boone grabbing 16 rebounds, dishing out an assist along with a steal while Williams grabbed 6 rebounds, dished out 3 assists and blocked 2 shots.? Indiana (30-43) stays home to?host the Miami Heat Monday while New Jersey (31-42) hosts the Phoenix Suns on Saturday.

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