Dec

12

Pacers Snap Six-Game Losing Streak, Crush Nets 107-91

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under NBA Game Recap 

Tyler Hansbrough 

With Danny Granger gone for a period of time because of a torn right plantar fascia, the Indiana Pacers are losing about 25 or so PPG. Which means that they have to get their offense from other sources. During Friday night’s game against the New Jersey Nets, they had to rely on a shared contribution from the entire team. As a matter of fact, the team got big lifts from rookie Tyler Hansbrough and Roy Hibbert as they scored career highs – Hansbrough with 21 points and Hibbert pouring in 20 – in leading Indiana to the convincing 107-91 win over lowly New Jersey at Conseco Fieldhouse.

The first quarter was by and large nip-and-tuck with neither team holding more than a four-point lead until Jeff Foster hit a jumper with 1:36 left in the period, giving the Pacers a 27-21 lead going into the second quarter. A Hibbert dunk gave Indiana a 14-point lead at 41-27 but New Jersey would chip away and reduce their deficit to eight on a Devin Harris jumper with 4:56 left in the half. Another Hibbert dunk put Indiana up by 12 before a Harris three-pointer with 42 seconds left reduced New Jersey’s deficit to 60-51 at halftime.

Harris left the game halfway through the third quarter, suffering a sprained finger; however, the Nets rallied as they got to within 76-71 before Hansbrough hit consecutive jumpers which started an 8-0 run that pushed Indiana’s lead back to 13. They would lead 87-74 going into the fourth quarter. Harris returned in the fourth quarter yet the Pacers opened the period with a 6-1 spurt to take a 93-75 and New Jersey wouldn’t make a basket until the 5:51 mark of the final period, essentially icing the game for the Pacers.

Six Pacers scored in double-digits, led by Hansbrough with a career-high 21 points, 7 rebounds, an assist and 3 steals while Hibbert added a career-high 20 with 9 rebounds, a steal and 3 blocks; Troy Murphy and Mike Dunleavy chipped in 15 each – with Murphy grabbing 12 rebounds, dished out 2 assists along with a steal and 2 blocks while Dunleavy made 3 three-pointers, grabbed 5 rebounds, dished out 4 assists along with a block.

New Jersey was led by Brook Lopez with 25 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks while Harris added 18 with 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals; Rafer Alston chipped in 17 with 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and a block.

Indiana (7-13) plays again on Saturday when they travel to Washington, D.C. to take on the Wizards while New Jersey (2-21) travels to Atlanta to face the Hawks on Sunday.


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