Game Rewind: Pacers 93, Thunder 104

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Game Rewind: IND 93, OKC 104

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Indiana played Oklahoma City, the NBA’s hottest team, and was close to picking up their biggest win of the season. They came within three with just over five minutes to play but the Thunder finished them off with a 10-2 run for a 104-93 victory.

David West liked his matchup and demanded the ball early and often. Going against Serge Ibaka, West scored a quick 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting. The Pacers were up 20-15 with just over two minutes remaining and that’s where the tide turned early. The Thunder outscored the Pacers 10-2, nine from Kevin Martin off the bench, and they held a 25-22 after one.

Oklahoma City later used a 12-2 run to push their lead to 13, 45-32. That’s when Indiana regrouped and rallied after a timeout to score 13 in a row, which tied the game at 45. The lead was exchanged over the final three minutes and the Thunder would take a 57-56 lead into the locker room.

The Pacers started the second half well, and scored the first seven points. The Thunder outscored the Pacers 27-18 in the quarter, including 10 in a row at one point. The Pacers didn’t turn the ball over in the third period, but were in a 10-point hole entering the fourth.

Like the previous quarter, the Pacers started the final period strong. Paul George cut the Thunder’s lead to three, 94-91, but Indiana wouldn’t come any closer. The Pacers didn’t have a field goal in the final 5:26 and were outscored 10-2 to end the game by the Thunder, who earned their eighth straight win and third over Indiana, 104-93.

David West was in double-figures for the 12 straight game as he scored 21 points along with nine rebounds to lead the Pacers in both categories. Paul George had 17 points and George Hill tallied 15.

Kevin Durant was held to 10 points at halftime but finished with a game-high 27 points on 9-of-24 shooting. Kevin Martin carried the Thunder in the first half with 22 points but would only score two points in the final two quarters. Russell Westbrook added 21 points and six assists.

Oklahoma City showed off their top-ranked offense: they shot 49 percent from the field, 83 percent from the free throw line and scored 100+ points for the 11th game in a row.

The Thunder outscored the Pacers 33-9 to end each of the four quarters, including 10-2 to close both the first and fourth stanzas.

The Pacers turned the ball over a season-low seven times.

David West has led the Pacers in rebounding in six of the last seven games.

All five of Indiana’s starters were in double-figures for the fifth game this year.

“I’m happy that our offense is continuing to grow. And I like (how) we guarded them…we played a heck of a game and we lost to a heck of a team.” – Frank Vogel

“Yeah, we knew to beat this team we had to put up points as well. Our defense can only hold up for so long. We thought they did a great job. Those guys are special players, and they made big shots.” – Paul George

“They made shots late in the game, and we didn’t make shots... We may have a couple breakdowns here-and-there that we need to fix, but that is something expected with a lot of new guys and a guy like Danny (Granger) out. We have to figure out how to close games late in the game.” – George Hill

“I thought we came out a little flat in that first quarter. I thought our second unit did a good job of sparking us and we took the lead... In the second half, how we played, we really did the job of defense basketball. I think they had maybe low thirties field goal percentage, but everybody participated on the defensive end of the floor in the second half.” – Thunder coach Scott Brooks

Both Indiana and Oklahoma City were efficient at the free throw line, but the Thunder attempted 17 more free throws and outscored the Pacers 25 to 11.

The Pacers return home to Bankers Life Fieldhouse for their next two games against Cleveland and Philadelphia. Good seats are available and both games include the Cash 5 Promotion with Hoosier Lottery. Pacers-Cavs Tix »   Pacers-Sixers Tix »

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