Game Rewind: Pacers 79, Spurs 101

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Game Rewind: IND 79, SAS 101

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The Indiana Pacers knew what kind of odds they were up against entering their game in San Antonio. They had never won in the AT&T Center and had lost nine straight to the Spurs.

After Monday's 101-79 defeat that streak went to 10, as the Spurs cruised to improve to 4-0 for the first time in franchise history.

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On their first possession of the game, Tim Duncan banked in a shot in typical Duncan fashion. Paul George missed his first shot and the Pacers turned it over twice before George Hill got the team on the board with a runner. The Pacers had a 9-7 lead, but then the Spurs went on a 15-3 run to go up 22-12 and never looked back. At the end of the first quarter, the Spurs led 26-18.

The Pacers got off to a sluggish start in the second and dug themselves a hole early as the jump-shots weren't falling. The Spurs scored 15 straight and surged ahead while the Pacers missed their first seven shots and turned it over four times. David West kept the Pacers alive with 10 points and five rebounds in the quarter.

The tide turned just before halftime when the Spurs failed to score in the final 3:11. During that time, the Pacers scored 11 to come within nine at the break, 47-38.

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San Antonio got back in rhythm by getting into the lane with ease and moving the ball well. While the Pacers' struggles from the field continued, Gary Neal, DeJuan Blair and Stephen Jackson contributed off the bench for the Spurs.

The Pacers simply didn't shoot well, take care of the ball, or get stops on defense. They were outscored in all four quarters and were beat in nearly every statistical category. The problem wasn't solely that they lost; it was how they lost. Now, it's imperative that the Pacers regroup quickly with two more games on this weeklong road trip.

George Hill scored a team-high 15 points and dished out six assists against his former team. Paul George added 14 and David West recorded a double-double for the second straight game (10 points and 11 rebounds).

Five Spurs scored in double-figures. Gary Neal was 8-of-10 from the field and scored a game-high 17 points in less than 20 minutes of action off the bench.

Tim Duncan, as usual, recorded a double-double (14 points, 11 rebounds). DeJuan Blair scored 14 points, former Pacers player Stephen Jackson had 12, and Daniel Green finished with 10.

The Spurs attacked the basket, outscoring the Blue and Gold, 52-24, in the paint.

Turnovers remain a pressing issue for the Pacers. They lead the league in giveaways, with at least 19 in all four games.

Roy Hibbert was notably absent—not physically, but from a production standpoint. He scored only 2 points in 27 minutes on 1-of-7 shooting.

The Pacers pulled in 17 offensive rebounds and won the battle of the boards 48-45.

The Achilles' heel for the Pacers was their field goal percentage. At halftime, they were 13-of-43 for a 30 percent clip. On the night, the Pacers shot a season-low 34 percent (27-of-79).

On Wednesday, the Pacers play in Atlanta at 7:30 PM EST and on Friday, November 9th, they play at Minnesota. Start time for the T-Wolves game is 8:00 PM EST. Their next home game is Saturday, November 10th at 7:00 PM versus the Wizards. Buy Tickets »

2013-14 Season Tickets » Playoff Priority, Biggest Games, Best Pricing

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