88
69
Wednesday, February 6th at 7:00 PM at the Wells Fargo Center
Game Rewind: IND 88, PHI 69
Scott Agness | February 4, 2013 | Updated February 6, 2013, 1:17 AM
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Game Rewind
The Pacers were upset when the NBA scheduled them for three games in three nights, the only team to have such a daunting task this season. And boy did the Pacers show them. In Philadelphia to complete the trifecta, the Pacers held the Sixers to a season-low output and disposed of them 88-69.
Three straight games, three double-digit wins.
Coach Frank Vogel said the mindset going into the game was solely on the game at hand, not about finishing the back-to-back-to-back. What the team had in the tank was going to be a big factor, but they didn’t seem to let that get them down.
Roy Hibbert got the Pacers (31-19) off to a great start. In the first quarter alone, he scored eight of his 18 points, pulled down seven rebounds and swatted four shots. The Pacers didn’t commit a turnover in the first quarter and led by three.
By the second quarter, the Pacers looked wiped yet they continued to outwork the Sixers (21-27), who had the day off yesterday. Though the Pacers weren’t playing great, the Sixers were en route to their worst performance of the season. Seven different Pacers players scored a basket in the quarter and only David West had more than one. They knew it was going to take a total team effort.
Out of the locker room, the Pacers went on an 11-2 run to take their first double-digit lead, 48-36. The Sixers scored only 14 points in the entire quarter and trailed by 11 after three quarters of play. Indiana’s starters played most of the quarter and they kept a comfortable lead in the low-scoring affair.
You would think the 12th and final quarter over the last three days would be one of their worst. Instead, it was their most efficient of the night. They shot 53 percent, made 11-of-12 free throws, won the battle of the boards and led by as many as 21. The Pacers held the Sixers to a season-low 69 points and snapped a three-game road losing skid with the 88-69 win.
Given the challenge, and the Pacers ran through the finish line.
The Sixers were without starters Andrew Bynum, Thaddeus Young and Jason Richardson because of injuries – but the Pacers don’t want to hear about it. They not only won each game of their back-to-back-to-back, but they won convincingly and as a team.
Inside the Numbers
Roy Hibbert recorded his 11th double-double of the season, leading the Pacers with 18 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks. Paul George, who played the entire first, third and fourth quarters, finished with 15 points, five rebounds and six assists.
With 15 points (five rebounds and five assists), George Hill scored in double-figures for the 14th-straight game, a career-high.
All-Star guard Jrue Holiday paced the 76ers with 19 points on 7-of-22 shooting. Rookie forward Arnett Moultrie scored a career-high 12 points in 21 minutes. Center Spencer Hawes contributed six points and 10 rebounds.
Evan Turner was just 1-of-10 from the floor and had two points in 28 minutes.
At the foul line, the Pacers (19-of-25) outscored the Sixers (5-of-7) by 14.
The Sixers outscored the Pacers in the paint 44-28.
Stat of the Game
Despite playing for the third straight night, the Pacers only turned the ball over nine times.
Quotable
“Extremely proud of our guys, it was a gutsy, gutsy win. But our team is a mentally tough team, and they proved it tonight with a win.” – Frank Vogel
“Philly plays extremely hard, and they are very, very well-coached. Obviously, they’re undermanned, you have to call it like it is. Losing Thaddeus Young is a big blow for them, but you still need to go out and win. They still have an All-Star running the show for them, and I’m proud of our guys for getting a win.” – Frank Vogel
“We really got ourselves up in the locker room before the game. Physically, most of the guys didn’t have a whole lot, but we were tied together defensively.” – David West on the schedule circumstances
“I thought we came out with the right focus. We had to slow the game down. We just weren’t going to be able to keep up with them if they made it an up-tempo game, so I thought we did a good of controlling the pace, and we’ve been able to win ugly games all year.” – David West on the win
Noteworthy
- Five consecutive wins is the longest streak of the season for the Pacers.
- Former Butler star Shelvin Mack, on a second 10-day contract with Philadelphia, didn’t play and was released postgame.
Up Next
The Pacers are back home for their next five games, beginning with the Toronto Raptors on Friday at 7 PM EST. Lucas Oil Family Night Tickets » Find Tickets »
