INDIANA 116, MEMPHIS 110
Diogu Brings Pacers Back To Life
At Memphis | Feb. 3, 2007
He's been called the mystery man, the wild card, the X-factor in the Pacers' mega-trade with the Warriors. That's fine with Ike Diogu, as long as he's called. The young forward showed why he was considered by many to be the key to that deal by erupting for a season-high 19 points –14 in the second half – to spark the Pacers to their second consecutive comeback win.
After wiping out a nine-point deficit late in the third period to beat the Lakers at home 95-84 Friday night, Indiana wiped out an eight-point deficit late in the third and rallied to beat the Grizzlies 116-110 Saturday night in Memphis.
It was the third straight victory and sixth in seven games for the Pacers (26-21), who snapped a three-game road losing streak to improve to 11-14 away from Conseco Fieldhouse. They also won for just the second time in five trips to Memphis. The Grizzlies (12-36) lost their second in a row and fourth in five games while falling to 9-16 at home and 6-12 since Tony Barone replaced Mike Fratello as head coach.
PLUSES
Diogu was a force inside, using both hands and a variety of strong fundamental low-post moves to torture the Grizzlies. He also contributed a nice defensive effort, providing timely help for Jermaine O'Neal against Pau Gasol. O'Neal shook off early foul trouble for a monster night of his own with 25 points, 17 rebounds and two blocked shots. Jamaal Tinsley continued his hot stretch with 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting and nine assists. Danny Granger scored 14 with eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. Mike Dunleavy hit 5-of-9 shots and scored 13. And Maceo Baston, pushed out of the rotation since the trade, played because of early foul trouble to other big men and responded with seven points -- including a 3-pointer to close the first half -- and three rebounds in six professional minutes. The Pacers shot .529 and outrebounded Memphis 51-34, including 15 offensive rebounds that yielded 18 second-chance points.
MINUSES
Memphis has been scoring points at a Phoenix-like rate since Barone took over and did so once again, as Gasol had 30 on 12-of-22 shooting with nine rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Mike Miller scored 26, hitting 6-of-11 from the 3-point line, adding five rebounds and three assists. Chucky Atkins scored 19 off the bench, hitting 4-of-5 from the arc, but 16 came in the first half. Rudy Gay scored 11.
MOMENTS
Throwing in shots from all over the floor, the Grizzlies used a quick 13-point run early in the second quarter to take a 43-33 lead and held it deep into the third. Stromile Swift's dunk put the home team up 89-81 but the Pacers responded with a lightning strike of their own, scoring the final 10 points of the period in 90 seconds. Granger and Diogu team up for the final blow. Fouled while making a coast-to-coast drive that tied it, Granger missed the free throw but Diogu snagged the rebound and scored to give the Pacers a 91-89 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Atkins' only basket of the second half put Memphis up 102-101 with 6:39 left but Indiana's defense finally dug in. The Grizzlies put the ball in the basket just once in the next five minutes as the Pacers put together a 13-5 run keyed by a Tinsley 3-pointer and a driving dunk from O'Neal to take a 114-107 lead with 2:05 remaining. Miller heaved in a trey to make it 114-110 but Memphis would not score again and the Pacers closed it out at the line.
TIDBITS