Grizzlies-Pacers Preview

By JEFF BARTL
Posted Dec 30 2012 1:36PM

If the Memphis Grizzlies and Indiana Pacers live up to their reputations, points may be hard to come by Monday when the NBA's top two defensive teams meet in Indianapolis.

Memphis (19-8) ranks first in the league allowing an average of 90.1 points and improved to 12-2 when holding opponents below 43.0 percent shooting after beating Denver 81-72 on Saturday.

The Grizzlies, who have given up more than 100 points only twice, ended a two-game skid that included a dismal 121-96 loss to Houston on Dec. 22 that marked their worst defensive performance points-wise over the last two seasons.

"It was just important to get a win," coach Lionel Hollins said. "We had lost two in a row, and we needed to get back to playing our game."

Memphis also hasn't scored 100 points while going 6-5 over its last 11, though Rudy Gay helped break open a tight contest by scoring eight of his game-high 19 points in the fourth quarter Saturday.

Gay is averaging 27.3 points over his last three games versus the Pacers.

"He carried us down the stretch and made big boy baskets down the stretch," Tony Allen said of Gay. "It's a great team win. Hopefully, we can take some of these things and carry it over into the next game."

Indiana (17-13) is among the league's worst offenses, averaging only 92.0 points, but it ranks just behind Memphis giving up 90.5 points per game. It held the top spot before setting a season-worst for points allowed in Saturday's 109-100 loss at Atlanta that ended a four-game winning streak.

The Pacers fell to 2-8 when allowing at least 96 points and had given up an average of 85.0 while winning eight of their previous nine.

"We can say all we want that we're the best defensive team in the league, but until we get some great wins against some good teams, none of that matters," said George Hill, who has totaled 37 points while hitting 66.7 percent of his shots over his last two games. "Everybody has to man up and see how they can contribute to making this team better."

David West scored a game-high 29 points Saturday and is averaging 18.8 points lifetime versus the Grizzlies - his second-best average against any team. He netted 22 in the Pacers' 98-92 loss to Memphis on Feb. 10 in the most recent meeting, their fifth straight defeat in the series.

The Grizzlies have scored at least 98 points in 11 of the last 12 meetings and hope to get another solid performance from Zach Randolph, who is averaging 23.4 points and 13.8 rebounds during his eight-game double-double streak versus Indiana.

The Pacers, meanwhile, likely will be looking for a bigger contribution from Roy Hibbert, who has totaled 14 points while shooting 31.6 percent over his last three games.

Hibbert, who is shooting only 24.0 percent of his last three games versus Memphis, missed both of his shot attempts Saturday and sat the entire fourth quarter.

"Roy has great heart and gives great effort, but he didn't have it," coach Frank Vogel said.

Paul George, averaging 20.1 points over his last 13 games, has hit only 4 of his 21 shots (19.0 percent) while scoring 14 points over two career games versus the Grizzlies.

George leads Pacers over Grizzlies

Posted Dec 31 2012 7:11PM

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) The Indiana Pacers are now finding ways to win on a regular basis with or without veteran players.

"I'm proud of them and the effort to be a really good basketball team," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said.

Paul George scored 21 points to lead the Pacers to an 88-83 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday.

D.J. Augustin had 17 points and David West added 13 points and nine rebounds for the Pacers, who have won five of six. George also had six rebounds and five assists.

Zach Randolph had 21 points and 15 rebounds and Marc Gasol scored 13 for the Grizzlies, who have lost three of four.

"We played, I thought, really well in the first three quarters," Randolph said. "But we have to learn how to close out a game."

Indiana played without starting point guard George Hill, who injured his right thigh against the Phoenix Suns last week.

Coming from behind or winning the close games didn't happen early in the season when they fell in a hole early with a 3-6 record.

Still without star forward Danny Granger and with the injured Hill on the bench and even without center Roy Hibbert putting up the expected numbers, Indiana remains atop the Central Division and now a game up on the Chicago Bulls.

Augustin started at point guard for Hill, a decision that came right before tip off.

"We knew with George out, it would be a challenge," George said. "But D.J. stepped up and made the game easy. Everybody had to step up and everybody did."

Augustin hit shots when they were needed most, too, including four free throws down the stretch that kept Indiana ahead.

"It felt good out there tonight," he said. "I wanted to come in and do my best to help the team win.I felt I got in a good rhythm tonight."

He hit two to put the Pacers up 84-81 with 29 seconds left and two more to make it 86-83 after Mike Conley scored a lay-up to get back within two.

Lance Stephenson scored two more free throws to put the game out of reach.

The Grizzlies led 67-60 heading into the fourth quarter.

Ben Hansbrough hit two 3-pointers and the Grizzlies' Darrell Arthur scored a basket, but the Pacers trailed by just three, 69-66.

"I just thought we got a lot more active defensively," West said. "We were much more precise in terms of our communication and what we wanted to do defensively. And guys stepped up and made shots."

George had a key steal and dunk, and West's free throws gave the Pacers the lead for good. The Grizzlies turned the ball over and West made two more foul shots to make it 74-71 with 5:37 left.

"We had it in our clutches and our first four of six posessions in the fourth quarter were turnovers," Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins said. "We quit pushing the ball once we got the lead. It wasn't pretty."

The Grizzlies' ended a five-game winning streak over Indiana and wrap-up a two-game road trip at Boston on Wednesday.

NOTES: Stephenson was listed as day to day with a left orbital contusion, but started. ... Grizzlies F Quincy Pondexter didn't travel with the team because of a left MCL sprain. ... Hibbert's first offensive rebound of the night was his 800th career. ... Indiana Fever forward Katie Douglas attended the game and was recognized for the Fever's recent WNBA championship.

Notebook: Pacers 88, Grizzlies 83

Conrad Brunner, for NBA.com
Posted Mon Dec 31, 2012 6:50 PM - Updated Mon Dec 31, 2012 6:50 PM

THE FACTS: The plan entering the game was to get the big guy going. As it turned out, the smallest guy on the team wound up having the bigger impact. In his first start of the season, D.J. Augustin racked up 17 points, including seven in a row for the Pacers down the stretch, as Indiana rallied from a 12-point third-quarter deficit to beat Memphis 88-83 Monday afternoon at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. With 7-foot-2 center Roy Hibbert coming off a scoreless game in a loss to Atlanta, the Pacers wanted to work the post matchup but he struggled against Memphis' Marc Gasol, shooting 3 of 11. But Augustin, pressed into the lineup when George Hill was unable to play through a bruised thigh, had by far his best game with the Pacers and provided a huge lift. His 3-pointer with 2:07 left put Indiana up 82-76 and after Memphis scored five in a row to cut it to a one-point game, Augustin hit four straight free throws to keep the Grizzlies at bay. Zach Randolph led Memphis (19-9) with 21 points and 15 rebounds.

QUOTABLE: "That's a really good team win for our guys. D.J. Augustin stepped up and played an exceptional game. I'm proud of the effort and grit to beat a really good basketball team."
-- Pacers coach Frank Vogel

THE STAT: Though they moved back into first place in the Central Division with an 18-13 record, the Pacers won just their third game against teams currently in playoff position, against 10 losses.

TURNING POINT: Memphis dominated inside most of the game, using a 13-1 run fueled by Randolph and Gasol to build a 57-47 lead in the third quarter. But Tyler Hansbrough and Ben Hansbrough brought a big infusion of energy and aggression off the bench and the Pacers put together a 14-2 run bridging the third and fourth periods to take a 70-69 lead and put the Grizzlies on their heels.

QUOTABLE II: "When you play the amount of minutes I played you get in more of a rhythm, a flow. I felt I got in a good rhythm tonight."
-- Augustin

HOT: Augustin entered the game shooting .267 overall and .216 from the 3-point line but made 4 of 7 from the arc. Paul George scored 21 with six rebounds and five assists and played strong defense against Rudy Gay. Indiana's Lance Stephenson had his fifth consecutive double-figures scoring game with 10 points, adding seven rebounds.

NOT: Gay shot 3 of 17 overall and was 0 of 6 in the fourth quarter.

QUOTABLE III: "We got a little selfish in the fourth quarter. We made a lot of bad turnovers and didn't continue to play our transition game."
-- Memphis guard Mike Conley

GOOD MOVE: With the Pacers clinging to a one-point lead in the final minute, Augustin and David West ran a pick and roll that was defended well, but the point guard made something out of nothing with a quick drive that drew a foul and he made both free throws to make it 84-81 with 29 seconds remaining.

BAD MOVE: With the ball facing a three-point deficit late in the game, Conley and Randolph ran a pick and roll that drew a serious switch mismatch with Augustin defending the Memphis power forward. But instead of feeding the ball inside, Conley took a terrible 3-point shot over West that bounced off the front rim and led to an Indiana runout that produced a 3-pointer for Augustin -- Conley's man -- that put Indiana up 82-76 with 2:07 remaining.

NOTABLE: The Pacers snapped a five-game losing streak to the Grizzlies. ... Indiana has won five of six and 14 of 20. ... This was the third time the Pacers came back from a double-digit deficit in the second half to win. ... Indiana shot 48 percent on 3-pointers (12 of 25) but just 36 percent (16 of 45) inside the arc, and 32 percent (9 of 28) in the paint, where Memphis held a 44-18 scoring advantage. ... It was the first time this season the Pacers failed to score at least 20 points in the paint. ... Randolph's double-double was his 22nd of the season. ... Hill missed the game after aggravating a thigh contusion late in a loss in Atlanta Saturday. Hill played 33 minutes and scored 15 points against the Hawks and was in uniform Monday but did not play. ... Sam Young returned after missing two games with the flu for Indiana.

UP NEXT: For the Pacers, Wednesday vs. Washington, Friday @ Boston, Saturday vs. Milwaukee. For the Grizzlies, Wednesday @ Boston, Friday vs. Portland, Sunday @ Phoenix.

• Grizzlies: Pondexter
• Pacers: Granger, Plumlee

• Grizzlies: --
• Pacers: Vogel

• Lead Changes: 9
• Times Tied: 5

• Arena: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
• Officials: #71 Rodney Mott, #31 Scott Wall, #72 JT Orr
• Attendance: 14979
• Duration: 2:21