102
94
Monday, January 20, 2014 at 10:30 PM ET at Oracle Arena
Game Rewind: Pacers at Warriors
Scott Agness | January 21, 2014
Game Rewind
The red-hot Pacers opened up a five-game road trip with the biggest test, the perfect way to set the tone for the trip. They took the lead four minutes into the game and led the rest of the way in their 102-94 victory over the Golden State Warriors (26-17).
The Pacers (33-7) have now won five in a row and eight of their last nine games.
This one got off to an electrifying start. At the first timeout, just six minutes in, the two teams combined for 38 points on 17-of-24 shooting. Paul George, who was scoreless the last time the Pacers visited Oracle Arena, made his first four shots and had 14 at the conclusion of the first quarter. En route to their highest-scoring opening period of the year, the Pacers scored the last 10 points, shot 64 percent, and led, 35-21.
Indiana’s first few minutes into the second were poor, featuring three shots that were quick into the shot-clock and from at least 21-feet out, plus a pair of quick turnovers that led to easy buckets on the other end. The Warriors used an 8-2 spurt to draw within eight, but then the Pacers scored eight unanswered. With all five starters contributing at least six points each, the Pacers scored at least 50 first-half points for the fourth straight game and took a 53-40 lead into the dressing room.
To open the second half, the Pacers’ lead ballooned to 20 as they scored the quarter's first seven points. Following a timeout taken by coach Mark Jackson, the Warriors outscored the Pacers 20-8 over the next six minutes, which brought the crowd to life. Stephen Curry, limited to seven in the first half, scored 10 of his team-high 24 points in the third. As the Pacers searched for an answer, they went inside to David West, and he scored five straight.
The Warriors got as close as three points, with less than four minutes remaining. Despite going without a field goal for three and a half minutes, the Warriors chipped away their deficit at the foul line while the Pacers were whistled for fouls on five straight possessions.
Luis Scola, in for West who had five fouls, made a critical putback and then Lance Stephenson extended the Pacers’ cushion to seven on a big shot beyond the arc. Guard Klay Thompson then made a 3-pointer for the Warriors, who’ve fallen in four of their past six games, but George Hill answered with one of his own. The Pacers topped the century mark for the fourth straight game in their eight-point win — one of their best of the season.
Inside the Numbers
Paul George scored 23 points on 9-of-20 shooting to lead the charge for Indiana. Lance Stephenson (14 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists) and Roy Hibbert (14 & 10) each recorded their 10th double-double of the season. George Hill knocked down 3-of-4 3s and had 15.
The Pacers are 6-1 this season when all five starters score in double figures.
Stephen Curry was just 3-of-11 from long range but finished with a game-high 24 points, along with nine assists. With 20 points and 12 rebounds, forward David Lee posted his 14th 20 & 10 game of the season. Klay Thompson chipped in 17.
Up 77-69 in this one, the Pacers are now a remarkable 30-1 when leading after three quarters.
The Pacers haven’t allowed more than 97 points in 16 consecutive games.
Quoteworthy
“I’m glad we only have to play here once a year because their fans really get behind them and they have a great basketball team, very well-coached. I’m just proud of our guys for competing and doing the best job we could with their great scorers, holding them to 40 percent shooting.” – Frank Vogel
“They are a scrappy team that plays with a little incentive against us. We just have to continue to compete. We have the best record in the league, we’ve been getting everybody’s best shots and teams have measured themselves against us, particularly our defense.” – David West
“We don’t expect to surprise anybody. We were up by 20 and I wasn’t surprised that they made a run. That is what the NBA is, a game of runs. We just did our job, buckled down and let our defense win the game for us.” – Roy Hibbert
“I thought we came out with the right flow, right momentum. We knew they were going to make a run. They’re the best 3-point shooters in the game, and we knew they got the ability to fill it up and I just thought we made enough plays at the end to win it.” – David West
“Coach just said be aggressive and don’t pass up the good shots. I felt like Lance made a big 3 that I felt like drained their energy out and then D-West made a great pass to me and … I was thinking, ‘If the ball swings my way, it has to go up.’” - George Hill
Stat of the Game
The Pacers grabbed 17 offensive rebounds, tying their season-high, and scored a season-high 21 second-chance points.
Noteworthy
- Indiana has won the last two meetings and they are 11-2 vs. Western Conference foes this season.
- Playing on Martin Luther King Jr. Day for the second year in a row, both teams had special shooting shirts and many players wore purple shoes.
- Former Pacers forward Dale Davis (1991-2000, 2004-05) attended the game.
- The Warriors have sold-out 56 straight home games, dating back to Dec. 2012.
Up Next
Wednesday, Jan. 22 at Phoenix – 10:30 p.m. EST
