Charlotte Bobcats shooting guard Gary Neal (12) drives to the basket while being defended by Indiana Pacers’ Evan Turner during the second quarter of their NBA game on Wednesday. (Joshua S Kelly-USA TODAY Sports)
The Charlotte Bobcats turned a losing road trip into a positive homecoming. Al Jefferson dropped in 34 points, Kemba Walker had 19 with nine assists on Wednesday as hosts Bobcats pounded the East-best Indiana Pacers 109-87.
The Bobcats bounced back following narrow losses to NBA elites San Antonio, Oklahoma City and Miami, to hand the mighty Pacers their second worst defeat of the season.
“It was three in a row that we lost but we came in on a positive note knowing we were right there,” said Jefferson, who hit 18-of-25 floor shots, and his sixth career 3-pointer late in the game.
“Tonight, we came ready to play. We jumped on them early and kept our foot on the gas. We beat a great team; we played together and bounced back.”
Chris Douglas-Roberts and Josh McRoberts added 12 points apiece for the Bobcats (28-33), who shredded the league’s stingiest defence to post just their second win in the last 16 meetings in the series.
“You could tell from the time we walked into the shoot-around this morning not that we were going to win but we were going to play well,” Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said.
Jefferson scored 12 of his 20 first-half points in the opening quarter and the Bobcats raced out to a 28-8 lead en route to a 47-38 advantage at the break against a weary Pacers team, playing for the fourth time in the last five nights. “The first quarter was the difference in the game,” Clifford said.
The Bobcats dominated the third quarter, carried an 18-point cushion into the final frame and were never threatened, sending the Pacers to consecutive losses for just the second time this season.
“Charlotte’s a good basketball team, they’re rested,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. “So, we knew they were going to come out and we were going to have to play great and we didn’t play great.”
Evan Turner topped Indiana (46-15) with 22 points but All-Star starter Paul George, bothered by a sore back, was held to a season low two—20 below his average—on 0-for-9 field goal shooting. “I tried to play through it thinking it would loosen up but it was a tight night for me,” George said.
Despite the loss, the Pacers became the first team to clinch a playoff berth.
Elsewhere...
Portland 102, Atlanta Hawks 78
Frenchman Nicolas Batum had 14 points with a career-high 18 rebounds, and the Trail Blazers blasted the visiting Hawks for their sixth win in the last seven games. Atlanta’s 12th loss in 13 games ended Kyle Korver’s NBA-record streak of 127 games with a 3-pointer.
Chicago Bulls 105, Detroit Pistons 94
Reserve DJ Augustin scored 26 points, Joakim Noah had his sixth career triple-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, and the visiting Bulls dropped the Pistons for their fifth win in the last six games despite Greg Monroe’s game-high 27 points.
Houston 101, Orlando Magic 89
James Harden poured in 25 of his 31 points in the second half, Dwight Howard had 19 with 14 rebounds against his former club, and the visiting Rockets rallied past the Magic for their 13th win in the last 15 games.
Golden State 108, Boston Celtics 88
David Lee and Klay Thompson scored 18 points apiece, and the visiting Warriors won for the seventh time in the last nine games after bouncing the Celtics, who received a game-high 19 from Kelly Olynyk.
Washington Wizards 104, Utah Jazz 91
Trevor Ariza scored 26 points, Bradley Beal had 22, and the Wizards won for the sixth time in the last seven games after dropping the Jazz to 0-4 on their six game road trip.
Brooklyn Nets 103, Memphis 94
Joe Johnson scored 21 points, reserve Marcus Thornton added 20, and the Nets (30-29) moved above the .500 mark for the first time this season after beating the visiting Grizzlies for their fourth straight win.
NY Knicks 118, Timberwolves 106
Carmelo Anthony scored 33 points, Tyson Chandler had 15 with 14 rebounds, helping the visiting Knicks stop a seven-game slide after trimming the Timberwolves, who got 19 points from Kevin Love but just one in the second half.
Sacramento King 116, M’kee Bucks 106
Isaiah Thomas scored 25 points, Rudy Gay added 22 with eight rebounds and the Kings started a season-high seven-game road trip with a victory over the league-worst (12-48) Bucks.
Denver 115, Dallas Mavericks 110
Wilson Chandler scored 21 points, JJ Hickson added 12 of his 16 in the final frame, and the Nuggets stopped a six-game slide after beating the visiting Mavericks, who wasted German star Dirk Nowitzki’s 27 points.