Recap: Indiana vs. Atlanta
Sports Network | November 18, 2008
Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - Danny Granger had a game-high 34 points, leading the Indiana Pacers over the Atlanta Hawks, 113-96.
Granger shot 13-of-18 from the field -- including 4-of-5 from long distance to pace Indiana, which snapped a two-game slide. Rasho Nesterovic had 21 points, while Troy Murphy posted 10 points and a season-high 19 rebounds in the victory.
Joe Johnson had a team-high 25 points to go with seven rebounds for the Hawks, who have lost four straight since winning six in a row to start the season. Johnson shot 5-of-7 from three-point range, while the rest of the team could only manage a 2-for-12 mark. Marvin Williams scored 14, and Mike Bibby and Maurice Evans each added 13 points in the loss.
Leading 10-8 early in the first, Indiana scored eight straight points to take an early 10-point advantage. Jeff Foster hit a leaning three at the buzzer, and Nesterovic led the team with 10 points, as the Pacers led 32-25 after the opening period.
The Pacers finished off the half with a 10-3 run to take a 61-48 lead into the break. Granger led all scorers in the game with 17, while Murphy had 11 boards in the first half.
The teams traded baskets in the third quarter, as neither team could put together any offensive spurts. Indiana outscored Atlanta 27-25 in the frame, and the Pacers held an 88-73 advantage heading into the final quarter.
Acie Law's driving layup with about eight minutes left pulled the Hawks to within seven at 95-88. But Atlanta couldn't figure out the Indiana defense for the rest of the quarter and didn't get any closer, allowing the Pacers to cruise to the victory.
The Pacers shot 55 percent (44-of-80) from the field, while the Hawks shot 42.4 percent (36-of-85)...Indiana made 8-of-13 three-point shots...Foster scored 12 on 5-of-6 shooting...Ronald Murray scored 10 for Atlanta...The 113 points is a season-high for the Pacers...Indiana has beaten Atlanta three straight times.
