Easy stuff. After a close first half, the Pacers tightened the defense screws in the second, and coupled with another Larry Sanders meltdown/ejection, sped to a 102-78 victory, their 3rd in a row by 20 or more.
David West sat out again with a lower back problem and will be unlikely to return tomorrow night against the Chicago Bulls as the Pacers aim for a season sweep. Danny Granger is supposedly practising but won't return either.
But with the way Tyler Hansbrough has been playing (three double-doubles in a row and 22 and 12 tonight), the Pacers might not need those two guys. In the end, 6 players scored in double figures (Paul George gad 20, Roy Hibbert had 11 and 7 blocks, and three reserves — Pendergraph, Mahinmi and Augustin each had 10), and they will need everyone to step up again against the Bulls.
The Pacers are still 1st in the league in rebounds ans 2nd in the league in points allowed, but they have improved from being one of the worst offensive teams in the league — near-last in both points per game and assists — to now be 21st and 26th, respectively.
PS: The Pacers seem to just really hate Mike Dunleavy, who was ejected for a flagrant 2 after swiping Gerald Green across the head on a follow through.
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