Game Rewind: Pacers 85, Mavericks 92

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Game Rewind: Pacers 85, Mavericks 92

Just a few days after burning some miles in the air, the Pacers hosted the Dallas Mavericks at Bankers Life Fieldhouse for their second and final home game of their eight-game preseason schedule. The Pacers led by as many as eight, but they then got behind by 23 during a troubling third period where they missed 15 of 18 shots. Orlando Johnson keyed a late run to bring the Pacers (0-4) to within three with 1:38 remaining but the Mavericks (2-2) held them off for the win, 92-85.

The challenge Wednesday would be winning without four starters. With recent travels to both the Philippines and Taiwan, Pacers coach Frank Vogel opted to rest George Hill, David West and Roy Hibbert. Paul George was at home for the night recovering from the flu and bronchitis. That left the Pacers with a makeshift starting unit, which included C.J. Watson, Lance Stephenson, Danny Granger, Luis Scola and Ian Mahinmi.

Indiana fell behind, 12-4, early after the visiting Mavericks rattled off 10 points in a row. Then, the Pacers outscored the Mavs, 21-11, over the final 6:48 of the opening quarter, led by Lance Stephenson’s nine points.

Granger was subbed out of the game with 4:05 left in the first, and he went right to the locker room. Granger was diagnosed with a strained left calf, and because it was preseason, Vogel didn’t even consider bringing him back in. Granger left the locker room after the game, before media had a chance to speak with him. After starting the game, he scored just three points on 1-of-4 shooting, grabbed two rebounds and had one assist in 7:55.

Luis Scola, along with Lance Stephenson, continued to guide the Pacers. The Mavericks used two 8-0 runs -- one to close the half -- for a 57-49 advantage at the break. Despite picking up a technical foul, Mavs guard Monta Ellis had 13 points and nine assists in just over 17 minutes.

The Pacers came out of the locker room and had a quarter they’re happy occurred in the preseason, and one they would like to forget. They missed 14 of their first 15 attempts and ended the third just 3-of-18 from the field, including 4-of-10 at the foul line.

In their huddle before the fourth quarter started, the Pacers' reserves were told to improve their body language, as the game was far from over.

Chris Copeland drilled two field goals from deep, part of an 18-4 run that trimmed the Mavericks’ lead to seven. With just over two minutes to play, Orlando Johnson connected on consecutive 3-pointers in a 26-second span and Donald Sloan sunk two foul shots to draw the Pacers within three with 98 seconds left. The shorthanded Pacers wouldn’t come any closer, and were defeated, 92-85.

Luis Scola and Orlando Johnson each tallied 14 points. Ten of Johnson’s 14 were scored in the fourth quarter. Chris Copeland was 3-of-10 from long range but ended the night with 11 points. Hilton Armstrong, who’s trying to stay on the roster, scored five points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds in 19 minutes.

Shawn Marion scored a game-high 18 points, going 9-of-19 from the floor, and he also pulled in 11 rebounds. Monta Ellis recorded 13 points and nine assists, while Jae Crowder contributed 12 points off the bench.

The Pacers were out-rebounded by two and the Mavericks out-scored them in the paint by a wide margin, 46-22

Though the Pacers attempted 39 foul shots, they only made 25 of them (64.1 percent).

“I’m proud of our guys down the stretch there, fighting, trying to make it a game. I saw some good things out there. Obviously it wasn’t enough to get the win but it’s the preseason and we’re working on things.” – Frank Vogel

“He’s got a strained calf. [The training staff] doesn’t think it’s serious but in a preseason game, with a soft-tissue injury like that, they don’t want to bring him back.” – Frank Vogel on Granger

“I felt like I got a little rhythm. Just playing the game. Coach always tells us to just stay with the game, stay with the game plan. We got the shots we wanted. I was fortunate to hit some shots.” – Orlando Johnson

“I took a charge and [D.J. Kennedy] was falling out of the air and couldn’t catch himself and landed right on my ankle. … My [right] Achilles was a little sore but I finished the game so I’m not worried about it.” – Chris Copeland on his ankle

The Pacers shot just 33 percent for the game, compared to the Maverick’s 43 percent clip.

The Pacers face the Chicago Bulls at the United Center for preseason game No. 5 on Friday at 8 PM EST.

TV: None
Radio: FM 107.5/AM 1070 The Fan, Pacers Radio Network - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Slick Leonard (analyst), Kevin Lee (sideline reporter/host)

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