Charlotte 107, Indiana 103
Bobcats deal blow to Pacers' playoff hopes
By Conrad Brunner | April 12, 2008
Down 11 with 7:08 remaining, the Pacers rallied, closed to 101-100 on Travis Diener's 3-pointer with 1:03 remaining, and Conseco Fieldhouse as jumping.
Poised on the brink of an opportunity to put hot breath on the necks of the eighth-place Hawks, the Pacers instead ran out of steam as Charlotte held on for a 107-103 victory Saturday before 14,265 in Conseco Fieldhouse.
"With Atlanta losing (99-89 to Boston), the table was set," said Coach Jim O'Brien. "We just did not get it done."
The Pacers had their four-game win streak snapped by a Bobcats team that was quicker to the glass (20 offensive rebounds leading to 25 second-chance points) and into the lane (drawing 27 fouls leading to 43 free throws). After Diener's 3-pointer, Pacers missed three of their final four shots while the Bobcats went 6-of-8 from the line.
The loss spoiled a career-high 37-point game from Danny Granger, who scored 17 in the fourth quarter to spark the rally.
IMPACT
It isn't over, but the Pacers' playoff hopes are on the brink of extinction. Indiana (35-45) trails Atlanta (37-43) by two games with two remaining, meaning the Pacers must win their final two games (at Washington Monday and vs. New York Wednesday) and hope the Hawks lose their final two (Tuesday vs. Orlando and Wednesday at Miami).
"We can only try to control what we do," said O'Brien. "We have to work on winning Monday in Washington. That's the only thing we can control."
Charlotte (31-49) won the season series for the first time.
TURNING POINT
Playing the second night of a back-to-back with a team weakened by a stomach virus that hit seven players Friday, the Pacers dug a hole with a flat second quarter, making 8-of-25 shots. The Bobcats used a 17-6 run to take a 55-46 lead and the Pacers were battling uphill the rest of the night.
Playing with five fouls, Granger brought the Pacers back, scoring 14 of their first 20 points of the fourth quarter. Diener's 3-pointer, which came after the 6-2 guard chased down an offensive rebound running away from the basket, was followed by a pair of free throws by Okafor. Marquis Daniels left a drive short and Mike Dunleavy quickly fouled Raymond Felton, who made both for a 105-100 Charlotte lead.
Granger made his sixth 3-pointer of the night to cut it to 105-103 with 17.9 seconds remaining but Jason Richardson made two free throws 2 seconds later to keep it a two-possession game. Daniels and Diener both missed 3-pointers on the Pacers' final possession.
HIGHLIGHTS
Granger once again played with a leader's will, shaking off an otherwise tough shooting night to go 6-of-9 overall and 4-of-7 from the arc in the fourth quarter. His 37 came on 12-of-24 shooting overall, 6-of-13 from the arc, and he added five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a blocked shot. O'Brien gambled late in the third quarter by re-inserting Granger, who had four fouls, then leaving him in the game after Granger picked up his fifth with 10:48 remaining.
"I don't care how many fouls he had," O'Brien said. "I couldn't keep him on the bench. He mans to much to us. He carried us again tonight."
Dunleavy, obviously sapped by the virus, managed 22 points with seven assists but shot 8-of-23. Jeff Foster had 10 points and nine rebounds and Diener had 10 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals off the bench.
LOWLIGHTS
The Bobcats' quickness bothered the Pacers all night. They owned advantages of 59-43 on the boards and 33-16 in free throws made. Jason Richardson scored 12 of his 26 at the line, offsetting a 6-of-18 shooting night. Rookie Jared Dudley had a career-high 19 with eight rebounds, Felton 18 with 12 assists, while Okafor and Nazr Mohammed combined for 30 points and 31 rebounds.
"I think guys came in with the idea that 'hey, this is the Bobcats, they’re not playing for anything, they’re one of the worst teams in the East even though we lost to them twice we’re going to roll over them because we beat Philly on the road because we beat Atlanta at home by double digits we’re just going to roll over them'," Dunleavy said. "That’s not a good thing. That’s the idea we had and I think you could just sense it."
NOTEWORTHY