INDIANA 114, MEMPHIS 104
Daniels, Granger Spark Big Bench Night
By Conrad Brunner | Feb. 14, 2007
The lineup experiment had the desired effect for the second unit. The starters, on the other hand, may need a Plan B. Hoping to inject energy into the first unit while adding punch to the second, Coach Rick Carlisle opted to give rookie forward Shawne Williams a start Wednesday against Memphis, moving Danny Granger to the bench. Though Williams played just six minutes, Granger combined with Marquis Daniels to spark the reserve to a season-high 65 points in a 114-104 victory over Memphis Wednesday at Conseco Fieldhouse.
The change in Granger's status had nothing to do with his fall in Sunday's victory over the Clippers, though he may have played his way right back into the lineup, scoring 21 points. Though he started the third period, Granger may remain on the bench as Carlisle said he would use the All-Star break to ponder the possibilities. Daniels scored 18 points in 25 minutes as the reserves more than doubled the output of their Memphis counterparts, who managed just 31 points.
The Pacers (28-24) head into the break with a two-game winning streak and a 17-10 home record. The Grizzlies (14-40), who had won two of their previous three, fell to 3-23 on the road and remain winless in 11 trips to Indianapolis.
PLUSES
Aside from Granger and Daniels, Jeff Foster (eight points, seven rebounds), Darrell Armstrong (eight points, five assists, two steals) and Ike Diogu (10 points, three rebounds) all brought important production from the bench. Among the starters, Jermaine O'Neal scored 23 points with nine rebounds and three blocked shots and Mike Dunleavy fought through a rough shooting night (5-of-14) to contribute 14 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals. Though Memphis seemed to score at will most of the night, the Grizzlies were limited to 7-of-20 shooting and 21 points in the fourth quarter.
MINUSES
Rookie Rudy Gay showed signs of things to come, scoring 31 points on 13-of-19 shooting, adding six rebounds and two blocked shots. Pau Gasol had strong numbers inside with 19 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks. Mike Miller scored 10 in the first quarter but finished with just 12, going 1-of-7 in the final three periods. Hakim Warrick was the only Memphis reserve to bring any heat, scoring 15 points in 19 minutes.
MOMENTS
The Grizzlies were in a groove early with Miller and Gasol combining for 18 points in the first quarter. The reserves reversed that momentum with a 10-point run that gave the Pacers a 42-39 lead midway through the second quarter, but Gay pushed Memphis to a 56-51 lead at the break with a late 3-pointers.
Indiana's first unit had a 9-1 run early in the third to regain the advantage, 62-59. Though Memphis tied the game four times thereafter, the visitors were never again able to reclaim the lead. The Pacers led 87-83 entering the fourth, and then Daniels took over. He scored eight points in a 19-6 run that pushed the lead to 110-94 with 5:40 remaining, but things weren't quite done.
The Pacers missed their next eight shots as Memphis scored eight straight to close to 110-102 with 1:53 left but O'Neal converted a pair of free throws, then ended the field-goal drought with a jumper that closed the scoring.
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