Pacers-Hornets Preview

By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO
Posted Dec 22 2012 1:12AM

The Indiana Pacers are among the best defensive teams in the NBA, and that's a big reason they're putting together perhaps their best stretch of the season.

It appears all likely to continue against the woeful New Orleans Hornets.

The Pacers go for a sixth win in seven games Saturday night when they attempt to beat the Hornets for a fourth consecutive meeting for the first time in almost 17 years.

Indiana (15-12) allows league lows of 40.8 percent shooting from the floor and 30.9 from behind the arc, and that's precisely why the team gives up an average of 90.4 points - trailing only Memphis' 89.2.

The Pacers' defensive success has been evident while winning five of six, yielding 85.7 points per game. That success continued with Friday's 99-89 win at Cleveland, where Indiana limited the Cavaliers to 40 percent shooting and six Pacers reached double figures while the team shot 48.8 percent.

"We had a great balance with our starting five with all guys in double figures," coach Frank Vogel told the team's official website. "Most of them shot a good percentage."

Roy Hibbert is looking to build on his team-high 18 points from Friday. The center is averaging 10.8 points and 8.0 rebounds over the past six games, but has been a defensive anchor in the middle, with his 2.8 blocks per game ranking among the league's best.

Hibbert gave the Hornets (5-21) a strong dose of that tough play Nov. 21, setting a franchise record and a career high by swatting 11 shots en route to his first triple-double with 10 points and 11 boards in a 115-107 overtime win.

Paul George had a career-high 37 points in that meeting, connecting on 13 of 21 from the floor and setting a club mark with nine 3-pointers. The swingman wasn't close to being that effective Friday, making 4 of 13 field goals while missing all three attempts from long range to finish with 10 points.

Strong performances from Hibbert and George against New Orleans could give Indiana its first four-game winning streak in this series since Feb. 7, 1995-March 3, 1996, when the Hornets were located in Charlotte.

The Hornets own the worst record in the Western Conference, and their recent play isn't inspiring much confidence.

They're lost 10 in a row while averaging 88.7 points, and another defeat to the Pacers would match their longest slide since Nov. 23-Dec. 14, 2004.

New Orleans' dreadful stretch continued with Friday's 99-94 loss at San Antonio, as the Hornets hit just 2 of 16 shots from 3-point range.

Anthony Davis missed last month's matchup with the Pacers due to a sore left ankle, and the top overall pick in last summer's draft is coming off a solid performance against the Spurs. The forward had his most productive offensive performance in seven games since returning from that injury, making 8 of 13 field goals while totaling 18 points and 11 rebounds Friday.

The Pacers may be without Gerald Green, who suffered a sprained left ankle Friday. The reserve swingman has totaled 35 points over the past two games, and made a highlight-reel dunk over the Cavaliers' Samardo Samuels before drawing a technical for staring him down.

"I don't mind a little swagger, but I don't want to get a technical," coach Frank Vogel said. "Two games in a row, he's given us big lifts off the bench with our scoring."

Green, who averages 7.7 points, managed five in last month's meeting with the Hornets.

Pacers rally to beat Hornets

Posted Dec 23 2012 12:05AM

NEW ORLEANS (AP) David West made himself right at home - at the New Orleans Hornets' expense.

The former Hornets forward scored 20 of his 25 points in the second half and the Indiana Pacers overcame a 22-point deficit to beat New Orleans 81-75 on Saturday night, handing the Hornets their 11th straight loss.

"As a group we felt that we had to get our legs back," West said. "We came out struggling in that first half. I thought the team did a good job of just gaining our composure and getting a little more focused defensively (in the second half)."

West made nine of his final 11 shots, including late baskets that helped seal the victory.

"He really took over the game made unguardable shots," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "It was reminiscent of Dirk Nowitzki, with his fadeaway. He really just willed us, willed our team to a win."

Paul George steadied Indiana in the first half with 11 points, and finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds to help the Pacers win for the seventh time in eight games.

Robin Lopez had 24 points and 11 rebounds for the Hornets, stuck in their worst stretch since December 2004. Greivis Vasquez added 14 points, and Anthony Davis had 10 for the Hornets.

After the Hornets took a 46-24, the Pacers outscored them 57-29 - including 24-7 in the third quarter.

"We didn't really understand the moment," Hornets coach Monty Williams said. "When your starters don't have it, you expect somebody to come in from the bench and give you a little boost and we didn't get that tonight. I thought we played not to lose instead of playing to win. It's a tough one to swallow."

Davis, who was guarded by West for much of the game, was 5 of 14 from the field. Late in the third quarter, Davis had scored four points on 2-of-8 shooting

The Hornets, playing at home for the first time after a grueling four-game trip, led 70-69 with 3:13 left in the fourth quarter, but the Pacers scored seven consecutive points, four coming from West.

"It's one of those things where our focus was to come out and we played a good first half, but in the second half we just didn't make many shots," Hornets guard Austin Rivers said. "We came out flat in the second half and to sum it all up you have to come out and play a full 48 minutes, not just one half."

New Orleans cut the deficit to 75-73 on Vasquez's three-point play, but Lance Stephenson scored off an offensive rebound and West added a turnaround jumper to secure the win.

The Hornets were 13 of 42 from the field in the second half, and had only seven free throws - making five - in the game.

"We couldn't get to the line," Williams said. "The NBA is cruel that way. We have to own it and move forward."

NOTES: West scored his 10,000th career point midway through the third quarter. ... Indiana improved to 16-12, and New Orleans dropped to 5-22.

Notebook: Pacers 81, Hornets 75

Scott Kushner, for NBA.com
Posted Sat Dec 22, 2012 11:31 PM - Updated Sat Dec 22, 2012 11:31 PM

THE FACTS: David West scored 20 of his game-high 25 points in the second half, propelling the Indiana Pacers as they overcame a 22-point deficit en route to an 81-75 win over the New Orleans Hornets on Saturday night at the New Orleans Arena.

After a sluggish first half, West converted all four of his fourth-quarter shots, including a pair of fade-away jumpers over the outstretched arms of Hornets forward Anthony Davis in the final two minutes to seal the win -- Indiana's sixth victory in its past seven games.

Meanwhile, the Hornets were saddled with their 11th consecutive loss, extending the longest drought in the Western Conference.

QUOTABLE: "He's got big guts. He's got really big guts. He's capable of carrying the team singlehandedly. He did that tonight."
-- Pacers coach Frank Vogel on West's performance in the fourth quarter.

THE STAT: After holding a 46-29 lead at halftime thanks to 50 percent shooting, the Hornets were held to just seven points in the third quarter, its lowest scoring quarter of the season. New Orleans made just 17.6 percent of its shots during the period and committed six turnovers, as Indiana squeezed the life out of New Orleans' offensive rhythm.

TURNING POINT: With New Orleans leading 59-57 midway through the fourth quarter, Hornets guard Austin Rivers perfectly timed his defensive break, slicing to the top of the key to deflect a pass. However, before it could cross midcourt, the ball bounced into the hands of Pacers forward Paul George, who found George Hill in the corner for a wide-open three-pointer. It turned a potential Hornets' breakaway into Indiana's first lead of the game.

QUOTABLE II: "We trust and believe in our defense and I thought our defense and I thought our defense was solid enough, and is solid enough every night, to give us a shot. We just maintained that throughout the third quarter and into the fourth."
-- David West

HOT: In the first five minutes of the second quarter, Hornets center Robin Lopez took control of the game on both sides of the court, scoring seven points, blocking two shots, and nabbing a steal which led to a breakaway dunk and three-point play. Lopez's outburst help push the Hornets on a 22-9 run to start the quarter, extending its advantage to 22 points. Lopez finished with 11 rebounds, six blocks and a season-high 24 points, leading the Hornets throughout the night.

NOT: Indiana scored just 29 points in the first half, its lowest scoring half of the season. It was also the lowest scoring output against the Hornets in any half this season. The Pacers' previous low was a 30-point effort in an 88-76 loss to the Knicks, while New Orleans' best defensive effort was holding Milwaukee to 31 second-half points in a 102-81 win on Dec. 3 -- the Hornets' most recent victory. Post players Roy Hibbert and West converted just 3-for-15 field goals as the Pacers shot just 31.6 percent in the half.

NOTABLE: West scored 12 points in the third quarter, making 5-for-7 attempts...Pacers guard Lance Stephenson failed to reach the rim on perimeter shots in back-to-back possessions in the second quarter...The Pacers made just 11-for-18 free throws (61.1 percent)...New Orleans shot just seven free throws all game...Al-Farouq Aminu didn't enter the game, the third straight the former starting forward has sat. His abscense was listed as a "Coach's Decision".

UP NEXT: For the Hornets, Wednesday @ Orlando, Friday vs. Toronto, Saturday @ Charlotte. For the Pacers, Wednesday vs. Chicago, Friday vs. Phoenix, Saturday @ Atlanta.

• Pacers: Granger, Green
• Hornets: Gordon, Smith

• Pacers: --
• Hornets: --

• Lead Changes: 3
• Times Tied: 5

• Arena: New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, LA
• Officials: #49 Tom Washington, #58 Josh Tiven, #59 Gary Zielinski
• Attendance: 15042
• Duration: 2:07