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Tuesday, Dec. 21 7:00pm ET
Pacers run home win streak to 7 games | |||||
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The Indiana Pacers were anything but lethargic, and Gary Payton was anything but discreet about how his Seattle SuperSonics responded. "You'd think we could get it right," Payton said after the Sonics fell 113-103 Tuesday to the Pacers. "We've only been doing this since October. I just chalk it up to one of those nights when we played like we were brain-locked."
Indiana ran its home winning streak to seven games as the Pacers' starters -- criticized by their coach for sluggish play in a Nov. 29 loss at Seattle -- kept the Sonics at bay in the game's pivotal third quarter. Reggie Miller scored 31 points and Jalen Rose had 19, the two combining for 19 points in the third quarter. Miller shot 12-of-19 and Rose and Mark Jackson each handed out 11 assists. Payton, who had 12 assists, scored 28 points by sinking 10 of 17 field goals. Vin Baker scored 24 points and Vernon Maxwell added 17. Brent Barry (12 points, 13 rebounds) and Horace Grant (10 points, 10 rebounds) registered double-doubles for Seattle. After a close first half that featured six ties and seven lead changes, the Pacers took control by scoring the first eight points of the third quarter. "We wanted to get off to a fast start in the third quarter, and hopefully, make them play from behind the rest of the game," Rose said. Rose hit a long jump shot, and after Dale Davis added a basket, Rose came back with a jam and a fast-break layup as Indiana extended its lead to 63-46 three minutes into the second half. Miller, who equaled his season-high for scoring, scored 10 points in the third quarter. Sam Perkins subbed for slow-starting center Rik Smits and scored 19 points, nine on 3-of-7 shooting from 3-point range. Davis added 16 points. "We needed Sam tonight," Pacers coach Larry Bird said. "Rik wasn't forcing things on the offensive end. Sam came in and opened it up."
Game notes | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Seattle Clubhouse Indiana Clubhouse RECAPS Indiana 113 Seattle 103
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