Inside the Game: Pacers 113, Nets 103 080222

Indiana 113, New Jersey 103
Dunleavy racks up 34 as Pacers win

By Conrad Brunner | Feb. 22, 2008

The Pacers scored just one basket in the final 6:39 of the game … and didn't even need that one, as it turned out.

With Mike Dunleavy sparking the offense with 34 points and the team adopting a more aggressive defensive stance, the Pacers rolled up a 17-point lead and coasted home for a 113-103 victory over the Nets before 11,930 Friday night in Conseco Fieldhouse.

Dunleavy had been battling a lengthy slump in which he had shot .368 overall and just 8-of-40 from the 3-point line in his previous eight games, but broke out with 11-of-20 shooting, including 4-of-6 from the 3-point line. Dunleavy scored 20 in the second half, 13 in the fourth quarter.

"(Dunleavy) had a great game. Thirty-four points, I don't know what his career-high is but it's not much higher than that," said Coach Jim O'Brien. "I knew Mike wouldn't be down for long."

In snapping a three-game losing streak, the Pacers (22-33) also got a strong performance from Travis Diener, who tied his career high with 19 points, established a career-high with eight rebounds and added six assists while committing just one turnover in 43 minutes. Jeff Foster had his eighth double-double of the season with 10 points and 14 rebounds.

"Travis had a wonderful game," said O'Brien. "I thought we played a solid basketball game."

The Pacers used two big runs to take control. New Jersey led 44-34 in the second quarter but six players scored in a 16-5 run to close the half with the home team up 50-49. The Nets led 63-58 early in the third quarter when Danny Granger, battling an otherwise rough night, hit a 3-pointer and then converted a three-point play to spark at 22-5 run that pushed the Pacers into an 80-68 lead.

The margin grew to 101-84 on Diener's 3-pointer with 6:40 remaining, which turned out to be Indiana's last basket. The Nets scored eight in a row to cut the deficit to 101-92 with 4:56 remaining but got no closer.

"I thought the key to the game was we started taking charges in the second half, started to step up and prevent their drives to the basket," said O'Brien. "That was the key: taking pride in not allowing the basketball to get to the rim."

Richard Jefferson led the Nets with 34 points on 12-of-21 shooting but Vince Carter had a quiet night (15 points, eight assists, six rebounds). Bostjan Nachbar scored 22 off the bench. Playing just their second game since point guard Jason Kidd was dealt to Dallas, the Nets committed 23 turnovers.

Noteworthy …