Danny Granger scores 32 as Indiana Pacers edge past New Jersey Nets 93 – 88 – NBA Recap
The Indiana Pacers have been performing well above expectations in the current NBA season and they continued their ascent with a narrow win over the New Jersey Nets. The Nets, who have struggled so far in the season, lost out 93 – 88 at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in a well contested affair.
"We're very happy to not be on a losing streak anymore. When you're on a losing streak the game that breaks it is never easy." Pacers coach Frank Vogel said.
The Pacers had Danny Granger to thank for a solid performance. The forward, who has been in fine form recently, piled on 32 points tonight, in an all action display. While Danny Granger was the spearhead for Indiana’s attack, others also played their part in the win.
Roy Hibbert had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, David West scored 16 with 6 rebounds and Paul George had 11 points, 5 boards and 5 assists.
New Jersey Nets were led by star point guard Deron Williams. Williams scored a team high 29 points along with 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Kris Humphries put in a terrific double-double display, 24 points and 10 rebounds while MarShon Brooks scored 14.
"The spirit of our team is good. We're just playing against some really good teams and it doesn't get any easier with our next game. Right now we could focus on the losses, but we need to focus on getting better." New Jersey coach Avery Johnson commented after the game.
The game was off to a fairly even start and the scores were close in the early going. The Nets slowly peeled away though and used an 11 – 4 run to establish a distinct at 21 – 12. They were up at the end of the first period, 29 – 21.
The Pacers then came screeching back right at the start of the 2nd quarter. They had a 12 – 0 blitz that turned the tables and put them up 33 – 29. New Jersey though never let them out of their sights and used a 6 – 0 run at the death to level the scores at halftime, 50 – 50.
Both sides turned on the heat at the defensive end after the interval. The third segment was therefore an extremely cagy affair, with opportunities to score few and far between. It finished the New Jersey Nets just up at 65 – 64.
Indiana had a 6 – 0 spurt after the opening exchanges of the 4th stanza to go up 75 – 69. From then on they were pretty much able to hold off the Nets, answering New Jersey’s advances with buckets of their own at regular intervals. With the Nets unable to put enough pressure on the Pacers, the game ended with the home team on top 93 – 88.
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