Advertisement

Pacers clamp down on Knicks to seize edge

 
The Pacers’ Paul George, left, working against the Knicks’ Iman Shumpert, scores 14 as Indiana grabs a 2-1 series lead.
The Pacers’ Paul George, left, working against the Knicks’ Iman Shumpert, scores 14 as Indiana grabs a 2-1 series lead.
Published May 12, 2013

INDIANAPOLIS — Roy Hibbert had 24 points and 12 rebounds, and Paul George had 14 points, eight rebounds and eight assists to lead the Pacers past the Knicks 82-71 Saturday and take a 2-1 Eastern Conference semifinal series lead.

Carmelo Anthony scored 21 to lead the Knicks, who led only once for a total of 76 seconds. New York spent the final 45 minutes playing catchup.

Amare Stoudemire looked rusty after returning from a two-month absence, going 3-for-8 from the field and finishing with seven points. J.R. Smith scored nine after missing the morning shootaround because of a 102-degree fever.

Indiana took control with a 14-3 run that gave it a 58-44 third-quarter lead, and the Knicks never got closer than eight

The big questions heading into the game were whether Smith would play, whether Stoudemire would be effective and whether Indiana could get back to its brand of basketball.

Smith gave it a go, but his shooting problems continued as he went 4-for-12 from the field.

Stoudemire hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in eight minutes and grabbed two rebounds.

And four days after being embarrassed in a 26-point loss at New York, the Pacers got tough. New York shot just 35.2 percent from the field and made only three 3s. Indiana finished with a 53-40 rebounding advantage.

Grizzlies' grunt work at home yields 2-1 lead

MEMPHIS — The Grizzlies call it grit and grind, and it got them through another ugly game.

Marc Gasol scored 20 and hit two free throws with 1:03 left to put Memphis ahead to stay, and the Grizzlies held off the Thunder 87-81 for a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series.

Gasol scored 16 in the second half as Memphis stayed unbeaten at home in the postseason.

"We just stayed after it like we've done all year long," Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said. "It's not always pretty."

Game 4 is Monday in Memphis, and Hollins wants one more home win for the Grizzlies, who are 18-1 at home since Feb. 8.

The Thunder's Kevin Durant scored 25 but was only 9-for-19 and missed two key free throws late in one of his lowest-scoring performances of the postseason. He went 3-for-11 in the second half with Memphis guard Tony Allen hounding him most of the time.

"It's not one-on-one defense," Durant said. "He's a great defender. Don't get me wrong. But it's the Grizzlies' team defense. I need to make the right plays for my team."

The Thunder had its worst scoring and shooting performance this postseason. Reggie Jackson, the replacement at point guard for injured Russell Westbrook, scored 16 and grabbed 10 rebounds. Serge Ibaka scored 13 but went 6-for-17 with missed dunks. "Everything was good other than we couldn't make a basket," Thunder coach Scott Brooks insisted after his team shot 33 percent in the second half. "We got pretty good looks."

Spurs in better shape: The Spurs are suddenly the team with a relaxed point guard who can dominate, and the Warriors are worrying about theirs. Tony Parker (bruised left calf) declared he would "definitely" start today after Friday's late 102-92 victory gave San Antonio a 2-1 edge in the West semifinal. Parker scored 32 and Tim Duncan 23 as the Spurs quieted the Warriors' Stephen Curry (16 points) and Klay Thompson (17). Curry's X-rays on his left ankle were negative, but he did not attend the portion of the shootaround attended by reporters Saturday. He is likely a game-time decision.

Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene

Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter

We’ll send you news and analysis on the Bucs, Lightning, Rays and Florida’s college football teams every day.

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

Kings sale: If the Board of Governors denies the pending sale and relocation of the Sacramento Kings, the Seattle group seeking to purchase the franchise has a backup deal with the Maloof family. The backup agreement would have the Seattle group, led by investor Chris Hansen and Microsoft chairman Steve Ballmer, purchase a limited ownership (at least 20 percent) of the Maloofs' stake. The Maloofs would retain majority ownership and continue to run the team in Sacramento, but Hansen's group would hold a two-year right to purchase a majority interest of the franchise at a later date.

Grizzlies 87, Thunder 81

OKLAHOMA CITY (81): Durant 9-19 5-9 25, Ibaka 6-17 1-2 13, Perkins 0-4 2-2 2, Jackson 7-15 1-2 16, Sefolosha 0-4 2-2 2, Collison 1-4 0-0 2, Martin 6-17 0-0 13, Fisher 3-8 1-2 8, Liggins 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 32-88 12-19 81.

MEMPHIS (87): Prince 1-5 0-0 2, Randolph 4-12 0-0 8, Gasol 6-14 8-9 20, Conley 3-9 7-7 14, Allen 4-10 6-9 14, Pondexter 4-5 0-0 9, Arthur 2-3 0-0 4, Bayless 5-13 0-0 11, Dooling 1-3 2-3 5. Totals 30-74 23-28 87.

Oklahoma City 18 27 15 21— 81

Memphis 22 22 22 21— 87

3-Point GoalsOkC 5-18 (Durant 2-6, Jackson 1-2, Martin 1-3, Fisher 1-5, Sefolosha 0-2), Memphis 4-14 (Pondexter 1-2, Conley 1-2, Dooling 1-3, Bayless 1-5, Prince 0-1, Allen 0-1). Fouled OutNone. ReboundsOkC 65 (Durant 11), Memphis 47 (Randolph 10). AssistsOkC 10 (Durant 5), Memphis 16 (Conley 6). Total FoulsOkC 23, Memphis 19. TechnicalsMemphis defensive three second. A18,119.

Pacers 82, Knicks 71

NEW YORK (71): Shumpert 3-10 2-2 8, Anthony 6-16 8-11 21, Chandler 3-4 3-5 9, Felton 1-8 4-5 6, Prigioni 0-3 0-0 0, Smith 4-12 1-2 9, Kidd 0-1 0-0 0, Martin 4-7 0-0 8, Stoudemire 3-8 0-0 7, Novak 0-1 0-0 0, Richardson 0-0 0-0 0, Copeland 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 25-71 18-25 71.

INDIANA (82): George 4-17 4-7 14, West 4-11 3-4 11, Hibbert 9-18 6-7 24, Hill 5-16 2-2 17, Stephenson 3-7 0-0 8, T.Hansbrough 1-3 1-3 3, Young 0-3 0-0 0, Augustin 1-3 0-0 3, Mahinmi 1-1 0-0 2, Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, B.Hansbrough 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-80 16-23 82.

New York 15 18 20 18— 71

Indiana 18 18 26 20— 82

3-Point GoalsNew York 3-11 (Anthony 1-1, Copeland 1-1, Stoudemire 1-1, Shumpert 0-1, Novak 0-1, Kidd 0-1, Prigioni 0-2, Smith 0-3), Indiana 10-33 (Hill 5-12, Stephenson 2-5, George 2-12, Augustin 1-3, Young 0-1). Fouled OutNone. ReboundsNew York 47 (Shumpert 10), Indiana 65 (West, Hibbert 12). AssistsNew York 11 (Prigioni 3), Indiana 14 (George 8). Total FoulsN.Y. 23, Ind. 23. TechnicalsChandler, West. A18,165.