INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Pacers broke out of their funk Tuesday night.
Now they just have to play good basketball.
The second-best team in the Eastern Conference got 19 points from Paul George and 14 points and 14 rebounds from Tyler Hansbrough, leading the Pacers to a 95-73 rout over struggling Orlando.
It’s just what Indiana needed after losing two of its past three games and, surprisingly, two of its last three at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, too. “I feel like if we continue to play the way we played today then we can be a tough team to beat,” George Hill said after scoring 14 points. “We know the offense will come. I feel like we played a complete game today. “
And despite a sluggish start and the absence of two starters, Indiana made this one look easy. David West, the Pacers’ second-leading scorer, missed the game with a sprained lower back. Danny Granger also sat out again with a sore left knee.
But against a team shooting as poorly as Orlando, it didn’t matter.
The Magic (18-50) were dreadful, shooting 31.8 percent from field and a dismal 3 of 15 from three-point range. They ended the first quarter by missing their final 11 shots, and Maurice Harkless and Arron Afflalo each scored 10 point while nobody else hit double figures. Coach Jacque Vaughn was even ejected during a four-technical flurry in the third quarter as Orlando lost its fourth in a row.
“I did watch it in the locker room, but I don’t think I’m the first coach be kicked out of a game,” Vaughn said, drawing laughter. “It’s not a big deal.”
BUCKS 102, TRAIL BLAZERS 95: In Milwaukee, Brandon Jennings scored 24 points and Monta Ellis added 21 to help Milwaukee send Portland to its 10th loss in 11 last road games
Wesley Matthews scored 28 points, and LaMarcus Aldridge added 21 points and 14 rebounds for the Trail Blazers.
NUGGETS 114, THUNDER 104: In Oklahoma City, Ty Lawson scored 25 points, Andre Miller had 20 points and nine assists and Denver won a 13th straight game for the first time since joining the NBA.
Kevin Durant had 34 points and Russell Westbrook chipped in 25 for the Thunder, which lost at home for just the fifth time this season.
