Indiana Pacers
END RESULT
On the verge of a blowout, the Pacers played their way into another close game. Fortunately, Jermaine O'Neal kept it from getting too close. O'Neal capped a 29-point night by scoring the Pacers' final six points as Indiana held off a fourth-quarter charge by the visiting Bobcats Wednesday night in Conseco Fieldhouse.
WHAT IT MEANS
The Pacers improved to 23-25 overall, 12-11 at home and 3-0 against Charlotte. The Bobcats lost for the fourth time in a row. They're 2-22 on the road and have lost 21 of their last 24 overall.
TURNING POINT
After dominating the first half, building a lead as large as 22 points, the Pacers had a comfortable 61-43 advantage early in the third quarter when Charlotte put together a 16-4 run that cut the lead to 65-59. Fred Jones and the second unit helped halt that surge. Jones scored seven points in a 21-9 run spanning the third and fourth quarters that pushed the lead back to 86-71 with 8:16 remaining.
Indiana promptly went more than 5 minutes without scoring as Charlotte scored eight in a row to close to 86-79, but Jeff Foster snuck inside for a layup and O'Neal then took over, scoring twice in a row from the post to make it 92-83, then closing out the game with a dunk.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
The Pacers shot. 486 overall and held a 39-38 advantage on the boards. O'Neal's 29 points led the way and he added 10 points and one blocked shot, but committed a team-high five turnovers. Stephen Jackson scored 22 on 7-of-14 shooting, adding seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Jones scored 12 off the bench. Anthony Johnson had seven assists, Austin Croshere seven rebounds and rookie David Harrison had an impact with nine points and four rebounds in 14 minutes off the bench.
Ely led the Bobcats with 20 points and a career-high 17 rebounds, adding two blocks. Primoz Brezec had a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double against his former team. Brevin Knight scored 14 with six assists and two steals. Steve Smith scored 12, while Jason Hart and Jason Kapono had 10 apiece off the bench. The Bobcats shot .410 overall and made 6-of-10 from the arc.
NOTEWORTHY
- Coach Rick Carlisle and Reggie Miller picked up technical fouls for the Pacers. Charlotte Coach Bernie Bickerstaff also was whistled.
- Johnson started his fifth consecutive game at point guard with Jamaal Tinsley out with a bruised left foot.
- Scot Pollard missed the game with a sore lower back.
- Charlotte was without guard Kareem Rush (back spasms).