George helps Pacers beat Nets

Paul George scored 23 points, including a key 3-pointer with 3:26 remaining, and the Indiana Pacers rallied for a 104-97 victory against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night in Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

George ripped the officiating crew after the game, saying “the stripes (were) awful”.

“When he came here, I knew what to expect out of him”, Paul George said of acquiring Hill from the Lakers via free agency in the offseason. He did his job, no questions asked, and when on the floor always looked to push it. He provided a different dynamic when he played.

The profane word will undoubtedly prompt the the league to fine George for his language.

This was one of the most physical and ugly games of the season for the Pacers so far. Late in the third quarter, Pacers coach Frank Vogel received a technical after he expressed his opinion that George was fouled on a drive to the basket.

Not that the Nets (7-19) were much better, shooting 28-of-68 (41.2 percent) and 6-of-12 from beyond the arc-enough to take a five-point lead into the fourth.

With only six turnovers entering the fourth, Brooklyn committed six turnovers in the fourth quarter.

“I don’t think we were lethargic at all”, Vogel said. We’re getting a lot of good looks, a lot of good looks. Detroit scored the first seven in the final period and was able to hang on after a tense sequence in the final seconds. It’s the widest disparity in the league at 20.6 points.

The Indiana Pacers got back to putting in hard work on the defensive end and got back to winning.

ABOUT THE PACERS (16-9): Power forward Jordan Hill has been a valuable cog off the bench and had 14 points and 11 rebounds in the win against Brooklyn. IN struggled from three-point range during the first half – 3 of 14 – but still managed a 49-47 lead through 24 minutes, getting 10 points from George and a collective 23 from its bench, including nine from Stuckey and eight from Chase Buddinger.NOTES: The injury-riddled Nets continued to play without F Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (fractured right ankle), G/F Sergey Karasev (sore left ankle), G Shane Larkin (concussion) and F Chris McCullough (right knee rehab)… Let’s not forget C.J. Miles and Rodney Stuckey both ended with 15 points, plus Chase Budinger chipped in 8 points but more importantly kept the Pacers in the lead to halftime.