Indiana Pacers use a strong first half to run through Utah Jazz 104-84 – NBA Recap
Gerald Green erupted with 21 points off the bench; Paul George had 20 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks and George Hill added 20 points with five rebounds and five assists as the Indiana Pacers utilized a perfect second quarter
to run riot over Utah Jazz 104-84. Jazz have now lost three of their last four games.
Al Jefferson had a shocker with just 4 points for Utah, who were paced by 16 points from Derrick Favors.
It has been a long time coming, but the Pacers are finally looking like the team which nearly eliminated the eventual NBA champions in the second round of the Eastern Conference Finals last season. The Pacers looked fluid on the
court and Hill, who has been one of the main offensive weapon for Indiana in Danny Granger’s absence credited the win to the belief within;
"I think we trusted passing more than we have all season and that's what coach (Frank Vogel) has been preaching all year long," Hill said. "If we can believe in each other, trust in each other, try to create a shot for each other
rather than for yourself all the time, we can have great offensive nights like we did tonight."
Jazz has the better of the opening moments, which saw them taking an 11-6 lead. The Pacers rebounded though, and they did so emphatically. After outscoring Jazz 25-12 in the remaining passage of the first quarter, the Pacers reduced
them to just 8 points in the second, racing to a 53-31 lead by the interval. There wasn’t going to be any contest after that especially when Jefferson and Paul Millsap were cold.
Two of the eight Utah points in the quarter, were courtesy of free throws. 84 points are the lowest Utah have scored this season and Gordon Hayward, who scored just 8 points and had 5 turnovers was disappointed;
"I don't know if we can get past this quickly," Utah guard Gordon Hayward said. "We just need to get back to work and work on things in practice. Eventually, we'll put it behind us and move on."
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