116
92
Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at 7:00 PM ET at Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Game Rewind: Pacers 116, Kings 92
Pacers.com Staff | January 14, 2014
Game Rewind
A restful few days, as ordered by Pacers coach Frank Vogel, did the team well. As the Sacramento Kings made their only appearance this season to Indianapolis, the Pacers had their best offensive night of the season — one game after their top defensive outing.
The Pacers (30-7) exploded for 34 points in the second quarter, and scored 116 points while shooting 54.9 percent from the floor — all season-highs — in their 116-92 route of the Kings (13-23) Tuesday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
The Pacers stormed out to an 11-2 start, with all five field goals coming in the paint and from a different starter. Following a timeout from first-year head coach Michael Malone, the Kings, who were beginning a six-game road trip, scored eight unanswered. After one period, the Pacers scored 18 points in the paint and led, 25-20.
The Kings picked up the tempo to start the second, scoring four quick fast-break points after not tallying any in the first 12 minutes. They took the lead for less than a minute, and then the Pacers held the Kings without a field goal for almost four minutes. During that span, the Pacers used a 23-5 surge to go ahead by as many as 17.
Lance Stephenson entertained the crowd with a couple razzle-dazzle moves that he finished at the rack or passed off to a wide-open teammate. The second quarter is usually where the Pacers’ production drops, but Tuesday they had their best of the season. They shot 68 percent and outscored the Kings by nine for a season-high 59 first-half points at the break, and a 14-point cushion.
19 points and 10 rebounds is a great stat line for any player, but it’s even more impressive that Kings center DeMarcus Cousins accumulated all of that in just the third quarter. He nailed 8-of-12 shots in the period, and scored 10 points off misses. On the other end, Paul George wasn’t too bad himself. Coming off his worst offensive game of the season — eight points — George scored 14, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the quarter.
RELATED: George Finds His Groove »
Indiana took a 12-point lead into the final stanza and it ballooned to 29 at one point, via a 22-6 run. With fresh legs, they got out in transition often and capitalized every chance they could. George had 10 more of his 31 points in the fourth quarter before sitting, along with the starters. Vogel emptied his bench, getting every guy at least four minutes on the court.
With the win, their 30th of the season, the Pacers clinched the best record in the conference through games played by Feb. 2, thus Vogel and his staff will coach the Eastern Conference All-Stars in New Orleans on Feb. 16.
Inside the Numbers
Paul George scored 31 points, his highest output since Dec. 8, on 10-of-18 shooting. David West quietly scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Lance Stephenson had 13, all coming in the first half, and C.J. Watson finished in double figures for the seventh time this season, with 10 points.
DeMarcus Cousins recorded his 11th straight double-double, with 31 points and 13 rebounds. Kings coach Michael Malone elected not to play him or three other starters in the fourth quarter. Rudy Gay was limited to 12 points on 6-of-14 shooting. Jimmer Fredette and Derrick Williams each added nine
RELATED: Pacers Teach Kings a Lesson »
Entering the game, the Kings had scored at least 100 points in 18 of their last 19 games. Limited to 92, the Kings dropped to 1-10 on the season when held below 100.
RELATED: Fieldhouse Cools Kings' Streak »
The Pacers outrebounded the Kings 46-40, and they’re now 23-2 when outrebounding their opponents.
Though the Pacers gave up a season-high 56 points in the paint to the Kings (while scoring 50 themselves), they outscored them 25-13 in transition.
Quoteworthy
“The rest I think enabled us … to have a couple days to get our legs back under us and have one of our best running games of the year. We had 18 fast-break points in the first points and that was a big factor in taking over the game early so I definitely think the rest had an effect.” – Frank Vogel
“My name is on the release, but this is recognition of our team’s success. It’s a team honor and I’m really excited about it.” – Frank Vogel on being named the coach of the East All-Stars
“We talked about trying to be active defensively and get some run outs, which I thought we did. … We call it ‘jailbreak.” We just jailbroke when there were opportunities to run up and down the floor, we did and got easy buckets.” – David West on pushing the tempo
“The biggest thing that we did tonight was just run. We got a couple days to rest and get our legs under us and that was one thing coach told us. … I think that was our biggest thing tonight was our energy in transition and forcing turnovers and then scoring off them.” – Paul George
“We watched film and we made sure they don’t do what they like to do. We just tried to force them into bad shots. We did a great job of protecting the rim and being smart on defense and getting steals and going out on the break and having fun.” – Lance Stephenson
Stat of the Game
The Pacers made a season-high 54.9 percent of field goals attempted and are now 8-0 when making at least half their shots.
Noteworthy
- The Pacers have won the last three meetings.
- Indiana reached 30 wins faster than any team in franchise history, topping the old high of 41 games set by the 2003-04 team.
- Paul George said in recent practices that he’d play without tape on his right index finger. Before the game, he changed his mind and went back to what he was comfortable with.
- Purdue grad Carl Landry has yet to play this season due to a torn left flexor muscle.
- Fever player Katie Douglas and Hall of Fame bowler Mike Aulby attended the game.
Up Next
Thursday, Jan. 16 vs. New York – 7 p.m. EST. Only a limited number of seats remain for the game. Find Tickets »
