Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - Paul George and D.J. Augustin each made
four 3-pointers, helping the Indiana Pacers hold off the Memphis Grizzlies,
88-83.
George ended with 21 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Pacers, who
improved to 10-3 at home this season. Augustin had 17 points and six assists.
Zach Randolph tallied 21 points and 15 rebounds to pace the Grizzlies, who
have lost three of four since a four-game winning streak. Marc Gasol donated
13 points and Tony Allen and Rudy Gay each added 11 points.
Trailing by six, 69-63, early in the fourth, Indiana put together an 11-4 run
to take the lead. David West capped the burst with four free throws to give
the Pacers a 74-71 edge with 5:37 to play.
West made a jumper with 3:15 left to give Indiana a 79-76 margin. Allen missed
a pair of jumpers on the ensuing Memphis possession. A shot clock violation
gave the ball back to the Pacers.
The Grizzlies had another chance after Roy Hibbert missed a short jumper. West
blocked Mike Conley's shot from beyond the arc, leading to a big 3-pointer
from Augustin.
Memphis went 5-of-6 from the foul line to pull within one, 82-81, with 41.8
seconds to go. Augustin stopped the brief run with a pair of free throws.
Conley kept the Grizzlies alive with a layup. Augustin and Lance Stephenson
each made a pair of free throws around Gay's missed 3-pointer to seal the
victory for the Pacers.
'I thought we got a lot more aggressive in the fourth quarter," West said. "We
made it so they had to score with two or three guys at a time, then we made
defensive plays."
The score was tied at 19 following a first quarter that featured three ties
and three lead changes.
Memphis started the second stanza on a 9-2 spurt. Randolph's three-point play
made it a 28-21 game with 8:21 to go.
However, the Pacers responded with the next five points to cut the gap to
28-26. The Grizzlies held a 41-38 margin at the break.
Trailing by one, 47-46, early in the third period, Memphis went on a 15-2 run.
Allen capped the surge with a layup to make it 61-49 with 6:06 left.
George's jumper and Tyler Hansbrough's layup in the final minute cut Indiana's
deficit to 67-60.
"We need to come out playing the way we used to play," said Randolph. "Playing
defense, and if a guy is open, pass the ball. We just need to make the right
play."
GAME NOTES:
Memphis had won five straight against Indiana ... Pacers guard George Hill
(strained right groin) missed the game ... Indiana went 12-of-25 from beyond
the arc ... Memphis was without Quincy Pondexter due to a sprained left knee
... West had 13 points and nine rebounds.
The Sports Network