The Indiana Pacers certainly didn’t get off on the good foot as they started their mini-Midwest swing through Oklahoma and Texas, starting at Oklahoma City Arena.
You just knew it wouldn’t be the Pacers night as they shot an anemic 34 percent from the floor and were dominated in all of the meaningful statistical categories. Long story short, Oklahoma City thrashed Indiana 113-89.
But along with the win, the Thunder lost Kevin Durant to a sprained ankle; he was helped to the locker room by a pair of trainers after he stepped on the Pacers’ Tyler Hansbrough’s foot and got fouled on a drive to the basket late in the third quarter. He would not return.
Things went bad for Indiana early on a sthey missed their first seven shots and committing four quick turnovers; thye also lost Danny Granger to two quick fouls within the first four minutes.
Oklahoma City had eight fast-break points, part of a 16-2 run, which included a basket and a pair of free throws by Nazr Mohammed.
Granger returned to the floor to help the Pacers get to within seven, but James Harden would score seven ploints during a 10-0 Oklahoma City spurt that made it 40-23 with 8:43 left in the half.
Granger’s foul trouble limited him to 6 first-half minutes as Indiana trailed 63-42 at the intermission. They wouldn’t get any closer than 16 during the duration of the second half.
Three Thunder players scored at least 20 points, led by Russell Westbrook and Durant with 21 points apiece – with Westbrook grabbing 3 rebounds, dishing out 9 assists, along with 3 steals while Durant grabbed 3 boards, dished out 3 assists, along with 2 steals and a block. Harden chipped in 20 with a rebound, 2 assists, a steal and a block.
The Pacers were led by Hansbrough with 13 points, along with 7 rebounds while Dahntay Jones added 12 with 2 rebounds, an assist and a block. Darren Collison and Lance Stephenson each scored 11 – with Collison grabbing a rebound, dishing out 3 assists, along with a steal while Stephenson grabbed 6 boards, dished out 2 assists, along with a steal.
Both teams return to action on Friday night when Oklahoma City (37-22) flies east to Atlanta to take on the Hawks while Indiana (27-33) makes the short trip to Dallas to face the Mavericks.


March 3rd, 2011
Stephen Rhodes
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