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Thursday, Dec. 30 7:00pm ET
Miller scores 30 points, four 3-pointers | |||||
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- A loss would have left the Pacers tied with Charlotte atop the Central Division. Instead, Indiana has a two-game lead. Reggie Miller scored 30 ponts and made four 3-pointers in a 27-4 run that led the Pacers to a 109-99 victory over the Hornets on Thursday night.
The Pacers (20-9) won their fifth straight overall and their ninth straight at Conseco Fieldhouse. "Right now, we're on a nice little rhythm," Miller said of the Pacers, who have won 13 of their last 15 games. "I'm firing and playing with emotion out on the court. The guys are setting extra-hard picks for me. Plays are coming to me." Miller shot 9-of-10 in the second and third quarters, while Mark Jackson had a season-high 18 points and 11 assists. Dale Davis added 12 points and 11 rebounds, Travis Best had 15 points and Jalen Rose 10. David Wesley scored 17 points to lead five Hornets in double figures. Elden Campbell added 15. Indiana trailed 43-33 with seven minutes left in the second quarter. Miller sank two of his 3-pointers as Indiana put together a 17-4 surge to close the half. Miller then hit back-to-back 3-pointers as the Pacers scored the first 10 points of the second half to open a 60-47 lead. Consecutive 3-pointers by Miller and Jackson then sparked a 9-0 run that pushed the margin to 73-56 with 5:32 to play in the third quarter. "We didn't rebound the ball. We didn't give ourselves any second shots," Wesley said. "When you're not doing that, and you're turning the ball over, and not making layups, that's what happens." The first half was played in streaks. Charlotte hit its first eight shots as it led 7-0 and 12-4. Indiana responded with a 15-5 run over the last 3:36 of the quarter to lead 31-28. Charlotte (18-11) responded with 15 consecutive points and Indiana answered with a 17-4 run for a 50-47 halftime lead. "We are better when we move the basketball," Pacers coach Larry Bird said. "We get wide-open looks, good opportunities to score, and that's what happened." Hornets coach Paul Silas agreed, saying, "The third quarter was pretty much the ballgame. They played super. We didn't play good."
Game notes | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Charlotte Clubhouse Indiana Clubhouse RECAPS Indiana 109 Charlotte 99
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