The Denver Nuggets ( 20 - 31 ) came back to beat the Chicago Bulls ( 27 - 22 ) 115 - 110 on Friday . This was a tight game throughout the first half , but the Nuggets put together an unbelievable fourth quarter to win . Chicago outscored Denver 32 to 18 in the third quarter , but the Nuggets outscored the Bulls 42 - 21 over the last 12 minutes . This marked the Bulls ninth - straight loss in Denver , but they lost more than that . Jimmy Butler had to be carted off seconds before the half and that just adds to a myriad of injuries the Bulls are suffering from at this time . The most surprising stat was the rebounding , as Denver snatched down 48 boards to Chicago 's 40 . The Bulls had to play this game without Pau Gasol , Joakim Noah and Nikola Mirotic and it was obvious they missed all of them equally . Jimmy Butler 's injury appeared to spark the Bulls in the third quarter , but they could n't muster up enough to hold off the Nuggets in the fourth . Derrick Rose was the star for Chicago , as he nearly triple - doubled in a 30 - point , nine - rebound and eight - assist line in the loss . Taj Gibson also played well , as he amassed 18 points , seven rebounds and three blocks in the defeat . The Bulls have now lost 10 of their last 15 and will try to improve on that Saturday against the Minnesota Timberwolves . This game seemed well out of hand to start the fourth , but Denver made one of their biggest comebacks in franchise history to win . Danilo Gallinari once again carried the load , as he scored 33 points and went 18 - for - 18 from the free - throw line . Emmanuel Mudiay also scored 22 of his own and dished out five assists in the victory . Nikola Jokic and Kennth Faried both double - doubled in the comeback as well . Up next for the Nuggets is a matchup against the New York Knicks on Sunday .


The Boston Celtics ( 33 - 24 ) steamrolled the Denver Nuggets ( 22 - 34 ) Sunday afternoon at Pepsi Center , 121 - 101 . The Nuggets led or were tied through the games ' first four minutes , but Boston closed the first quarter with a 26 - 8 run and never looked back . They carried a 15 - point lead into halftime and never led by fewer than 10 points in the second half . The Celtics were led by their starting back court , as Isaiah Thomas dropped 22 points ( 7 - 16 FG , 3 - 7 3PT ) and 12 assists and Avery Bradley added 20 points on 8 - 15 shooting ( 3 - 8 3PT ) . Jared Sullinger added a double - double with 16 points and 11 rebounds as the Celtics dominated on the glass . They rebounded 15 of their 50 misses ( 30 percent ) and allowed Denver to grab just six offensive rebounds on 39 missed shots ( 15 percent ) . Nuggets center Nikola Jokic scored 23 points ( 10 - 15 FG ) to lead all scorers and added 13 rebounds , four assists and two steals . Emmanuel Mudiay scored an efficient 18 points ( 5 - 9 FG , 2 - 4 3PT , 6 - 6 FT ) and Danilo Gallinari scored 17 points ( 5 - 11 FG , 7 - 10 FT ) . The Nuggets could n't find their deep shot , however , as they went just 6 - 21 ( 29 percent ) from downtown and could n't keep up with the Celtics ' churning offense . The Celtics continue their Western Conference road trip Monday against the Timberwolves . The Nuggets remain home for a matchup Tuesday against the Kings .


The Sacramento Kings ( 24 - 31 ) defeated the Denver Nuggets ( 22 - 35 ) 114 - 110 on Tuesday . A fast - paced , high - scoring affair befitting of both team 's explosive offenses and equally vulnerable defenses effectively ended with a highlight defensive play from the best player on the court in DeMarcus Cousins . Although they entered the final period on the short end of a 91 - 77 score , Denver mounted an impressive rally that eventually saw them take a 104 - 103 lead on a three - pointer from D.J . Augustin with 4:5 remaining . The two teams traded the advantage and also drew even multiple times over nearly the next four minutes . After Sacramento managed to open up a slightly comfortable four - point lead , Nikola Jokic made a surprising three - pointer with 10 seconds remaining to close the deficit to a single point once again . Darren Collison made only one of two free throws following a take foul on him by Augustin , leaving Denver with nine seconds to tie or hit a likely game - winning trey . Darrell Arthur appeared to have a clear path to a tying layup after breaking free down court on the inbounds pass , but Cousins made a terrific play to strip the ball and secure the hard - fought victory . Cousins unsurprisingly led the way for the visitors with 39 points , nine rebounds , two assists , a steal and a pair of blocks . Rudy Gay was a distant second with a nevertheless solid 16 points , 10 rebounds , four assists , four steals and three blocks . While no other starter managed double - digit scoring , Rajon Rondo did hand out 12 assists , while two reserves had productive outings . Omri Casspi contributed a near double - double with 14 points , nine rebounds , two assists and a steal , while Willie Cauley-Stein pitched in with 10 points , five rebounds , an assist , a steal and two blocks . Collison and Marco Belinelli supplied a pair of nine - point efforts as well , with the former adding five assists , four rebounds and a steal . Sacramento remains in third place in the Western Conference 's Pacific Division , and three and a half games behind the eighth - seeded Houston Rockets . They 're home on Thursday to face off against the San Antonio Spurs . Denver 's first unit was led by Danilo Gallinari 's 17 points , but he could only add a rebound , an assist and a steal . Nikola Jokic filled out the stat sheet in much more impressive fashion , totaling 13 points , 13 boards , six assists and a pair of steals . Kenneth Faried tallied 13 points of his own , and also chipped in seven rebounds , an assist , a steal and a block . Emmanuel Mudiay supplied 11 points , four assists , a steal and a block . Meanwhile , a Nuggets bench that impressively posted 52 points on the night was paced by 18 from Will Barton , which he complemented with six rebounds and four assists . Arthur had a solid 14 points , five rebounds , four assists and a pair of steals , his final rejected shot notwithstanding . Augustin and Joffrey Lauvergne registered a pair of 10 - point efforts , with the former adding three rebounds , four assists and a steal , and the latter hauling in six boards . The Nuggets remain in fourth place in the Western Conference 's Northwest Division . They face off against the Clippers in Los Angeles on Thursday .


The Memphis Grizzlies ( 35 - 24 ) defeated the Denver Nuggets ( 23 - 37 ) 103 - 96 on Monday . The statistics would indicate a win for the Nuggets , but that simply was n't the case . Denver shot 53 percent from the field , while holding Memphis to 48 percent shooting . The Grizzlies had a nightmare game from three - point range , as they went just 3 - for - 20 . The Nuggets also outrebounded the Grizzlies 40 - 27 . The reason Memphis hung around and won was the turnover battle , as they committed just eight turnovers to the Nuggets 19 and scored 30 points off those turnovers . While the Grizzlies were dominated in the stat sheet , they did a great job of hanging around and pulling out a big road win . Zach Randolph was the catalyst for the offense , as he tallied a game - high 22 points , four rebounds and six assists in the victory . Matt Barnes also had a nice game , as he amassed 16 points , five rebounds and five assists . The bench was key too , with Lance Stephenson and Mario Chalmers combining for 29 points , five rebounds , five assists and three steals . Up next for the Grizzlies is a matchup against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday . This was Denver 's first game without Danilo Gallinari and it really hurt them down the stretch . Kenneth Faried played well though , as he accumulated a team - high 16 points with 11 rebounds and four assists in the defeat . The bench did a good job as well with D.J . Augustin , Joffrey Lauvergne , Darrell Arthur and Will Barton combining for 40 points , 14 rebounds and 11 assists . Those were the only four players to come off the bench , as this Nuggets team is extremely shorthanded . On deck is a winnable game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday .


The Denver Nuggets ( 24 - 37 ) defeated the Los Angeles Lakers ( 12 - 50 ) 117 - 107 at Pepsi Center on Wednesday . The second game of a back - to - back for the Lakers proved to be a heavy workload , as the team looked tired throughout the second half . Kobe Bryant ( shoulder ) started , but only played the first half , likely to give the crowd a sendoff in his final game in Denver . It was far from a pretty showcase between the two teams , but the Lakers received another strong performance from rookie point guard D'Angelo Russell , who scored 24 points on 9 - of - 21 shooting , to go along with one rebound and six assists in 36 minutes . Russell has broken through in the second half of the season , and heading into Wednesday , he had posted a five game stretch averaging 21 points , 4 rebounds , 5 assists on 55 percent shooting . That stat line is the lone bright spot for Los Angeles aside from Brandon Bass ' defensive improvement over the last 10 games . Bass added 11 points on 4 - of - 7 shooting off the bench , but helped bring his team within striking distance of the Nuggets down the stretch , forcing a couple of turnovers and defending both the paint and wing at an exceptional level . Bryant five points in 10 minutes of game time , while Julius Randle fell short of a double - double with 17 points and seven rebounds . The Lakers will host the Atlanta Hawks ( 33 - 28 ) on Friday . The Nuggets held on to win , but it looked bleak after surviving an eight minutes stretch of play between the third and fourth quarters where they scored an underwhelming two points . Denver shot 1 - of - 12 during that stretch , and save for the Lakers inability to rebound the ball , the eight minute stretch could have been extended . The unlikely hero came on the back of D.J . Augustin , who rallied the Nuggets after the scoring drought and finished with 26 points , seven rebounds , five assists and one steal on 7 - of - 11 shooting in 23 minutes off of the bench . Emmanuel Mudiay put together a strong game , and the rookie matchup with Russell made for the most entertainment , as he rounded out the box score with 22 points , four rebounds and seven assists on 10 - of - 20 shooting . Gary Harris , Nikola Jokic and Kenneth Faried all finished in double figures in their starting roles . The Nuggets will host the Brooklyn Nets ( 17 - 44 ) on Friday .


The Brooklyn Nets ( 18 - 44 ) defeated the Denver Nuggets ( 24 - 38 ) 121 - 120 in overtime on Friday . Brooklyn came into this game as a heavy underdog , but got a game - winning tip from Brook Lopez to steal a win . The key for the Nets was the three - point shooting , as Brooklyn went 13 - for - 22 , with the Nuggets going just 6 - for - 26 . Denver did dominate down low though , as they scored a season - high 70 points in the paint , while outrebounding the Nets 50 to 34 . The Nets bench was huge too , as they outscored the Nuggets bench 53 to 35 . This win makes Brooklyn 6 - 6 across their last 12 games , which is a huge improvement on their early season form . Markel Brown was fantastic off the bench , as he scored a career - high 21 points to go along with eight rebounds and seven assists . Brook Lopez scored 20 of his own and capped off his night with the game - winner in overtime . The Nets have a quick turnaround , as they play the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday in their next game . This is the second time in a row that Denver has lost to the Nets , with both of them coming at the buzzer . Rookie Emmanuel Mudiay continued his good form though , as he tallied 25 points , six rebounds and seven assists in the loss . Gary Harris scored 21 of his own and made three steals in the defeat . Nikola Jokic and Kenneth Faried both recorded double - doubles as well . On deck for Denver is a matchup against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday .


The Denver Nuggets ( 25 - 38 ) defeated the Dallas Mavericks ( 33 - 30 ) 116 - 114 in an overtime thriller on Sunday . In a game where Dallas came in as a four - point favorite , these two teams battled in an extremely competitive game . Despite being outshot from the field , the free - throw line and three - point range , the Nuggets were able to prevail and escape with the win . The rebounding was key , as Denver snatched down 58 rebounds , while allowing Dallas to grab just 46 . D.J . Augustin was the hero , as he sneakily drew a foul with less than a second left and sinked the two free - throws to win the game . Dallas had won three of their last four coming into this , but could n't hold a late lead on the road against a struggling Nuggets team . They made some crucial mistakes late that ultimately cost them the game , and that 's strange considering this team thrives off their veteran leadership . Dirk Nowitzki led all scorers , as he finished with 30 points in the loss . David Lee gave the team a nice spark off the bench , as he tallied 18 points , 12 rebounds and four blocks in the defeat . The Mavericks have a quick turnaround , as they play the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday in their next game . Denver has been struggling recently , but they showed some great resiliency in this game against a talented Dallas team . Kenneth Faried was a monster , as he finished with 25 points and 20 rebounds in the win . Rookie Emmanuel Mudiay continued his good form , as he accumulated 16 points , eight assists , four rebounds , two steals and two blocks in the victory . On deck for the Nuggets is a matchup against the New York Knicks on Tuesday .


The Denver Nuggets ( 26 - 38 ) defeated the visiting New York Knicks ( 26 - 39 ) on Tuesday , 110 - 94 . Denver was bolstered by strong play from forward Kenneth Faried , who exploded for an efficient 24 points while pulling down 10 rebounds . Faried had an unusually strong performance , hitting 10 of 16 shots from the field and leading the Nuggets in scoring . Rookie Nikola Jokic also played a huge part in the Denver win , scoring 20 points and grabbing nine boards while dishing out three assists . The rookie has played few minutes thus far this season , but has shown signs of high potential , as evidenced by his strong showing on Tuesday . 30 points from Carmelo Anthony was not enough for the Knicks to secure a win , as no other starter reached double digits in scoring . Melo hit all of his 11 free - throws while going 9 - for - 18 from the floor , putting the team on his shoulders in an otherwise sloppy performance by the struggling Knicks . Anthony also led the team in rebounding with seven and assists with four , in what was an impressive individual showing . The Knicks forced just six total turnovers from Denver , allowing the Nuggets a 21 - shot advantage in attempts from the field . New York will face the Suns on Wednesday , while Denver will also take on the Suns this Thursday .


The Denver Nuggets ( 27 - 38 ) defeated the Phoenix Suns ( 17 - 48 ) 116 - 98 on Thursday . The Nuggets were a rare nine - point favorite in this matchup and did n't disappoint home fans . They dominated every quarter except the third , as they outscored the Suns by at least seven points in the first , second and fourth quarters . The three - point shooting was key for Denver , as they went 13 - for - 29 , with the Suns going just 6 - for - 28 . The ball movement was huge as well , with the Nuggets handing out 27 assists to the Suns 19 . The two big name rookie in this game did n't disappoint , as Emmanuel Mudiay and Devin Booker both scored career - highs . It 's been a rough stretch for the Suns , but there were some bright spots in this loss . The most notable being that of Devin Booker , as he scored a career - high 35 points in a spectacular performance . No other starter scored in double figures , with the other four players combing for 21 points . Brandon Knight made his return in well over a month , as he scored 10 points off the bench . Jon Leuer was the only other player in double figures , as he scored 19 points while grabbing seven boards of his own . It does n't get much easier for Phoenix , as they travel to play the Golden State Warriors on Saturday in their next game . The Nuggets played one of their best games of the season here to win their fourth game in their last five . Rookie Emmanuel Mudiay was fantastic , as he scored a career - high 30 points , while also handing out five assists . The other rookie starter played well too , as Nikola Jokic accumulated 18 points , 10 rebounds , four assists , two steals and three blocks in the win . The bench also played well , as they combined for 52 points , 26 rebounds and 14 assists between six players . Denver will look to keep up the recent good form against the Washington Wizards on Saturday .


The Denver Nuggets ( 28 - 38 ) defeated the Washington Wizards ( 30 - 35 ) 116 - 100 on Saturday . The recent forms of these teams would have indicated this result , but it happened in a strange fashion . Denver went on a 19 - 3 run in the fourth quarter to make a big comeback and run away with the win . In fact , the Nuggets outscored the Wizards 41 to 17 in the fourth quarter . What was most impressive is that the Denver reserves played the entirety of the fourth quarter and led the comeback . The Nuggets shot 53 percent from the field , while holding the Wizards to just 42 percent shooting . The Denver bench also outscored the Washington bench 75 to 34 . Washington had to play this game in the second half of a back - to - back set and it was clear they could n't keep up in the altitude . The Wizards had a seven - minute stretch in the fourth quarter where they failed to make a basket . John Wall shot poorly , but still finished with 19 points and 11 assists in the loss . Otto Porter played well , as he scored 23 points and recorded five steals . On deck for Washington is a matchup against the Detroit Pistons on Monday . This now gives Denver their fourth - straight win , with all four wins coming at home . The bench was spectacular , as four players scored at least 14 points . Darrell Arthur and Jusuf Nurkic both tied the team - lead with 17 points off the bench . D.J . Augustin and Will Barton both double - doubled off the bench as well , as they scored 31 combined points . The Nuggets will look to keep up the winning streak against the Miami Heat on Monday .


The Denver Nuggets ( 30 - 42 ) snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a buzzer beater victory Wednesday against the Philadelphia 76ers ( 9 - 63 ) at Pepsi Center , 104 - 103 . Philadelphia took a 98 - 97 lead on a Carl Landry hook shot with 3:22 to go in the game . They still owned that lead when Robert Covington stepped to the free throw line with 3 seconds to go and a one - point lead . But Covington made just one of the two free throws to give the Nuggets an opening . Lacking a time out , the Nuggets had to go the length of the floor , and Emmanuel Mudiay sank a three - point shot from near midcourt at the buzzer to give the Nuggets the comeback victory . Mudiay 's buzzer beater finished off one of the best games of his career , as he scored 27 points ( 10 - 23 FG , 3 - 5 3PT , 4 - 5 FT ) , grabbed 11 rebounds , dished four assists and committed just one turnover . Gary Harris ( 6 - 11 FG , 5 - 5 FT ) and Nikola Jokic ( 5 - 6 FG , 8 - 12 FT ) added 18 points apiece . The Nuggets more than doubled Philadelphia 's output from the free throw line , as they earned 40 free throws and sank 32 ( 80 percent ) . T.J. McConnell led the 76ers with 17 points ( 7 - 10 FG , 1 - 1 3PT , 2 - 2 FT ) and dished five assists . Carl Landry ( 6 - 11 FG , 4 - 4 FT ) and Robert Covington ( 6 - 15 FG , 3 - 10 3PT ) scored 16 points apiece as the 76ers had five players reach double figures . Philadelphia shot an excellent 15 - 37 ( 41 percent ) from three - point land , but just 39 percent on two - point shots , and they could n't capitalize on their deep sharpshooting as a result . The Nuggets head for Los Angeles to take on the Lakers on Friday night . Philadelphia 's road trip continues with a Saturday matchup against the Trail Blazers .


The Dallas Mavericks ( 36 - 38 ) defeated the Denver Nuggets ( 31 - 44 ) 97 - 88 on Monday . Most of the statistics would indicate a Denver win , but there was one glaring stat that kept this game close . It was the turnover differential , as the Nuggets committed 21 turnovers , with the Mavericks committing just three . Those three turnovers actually set a franchise record for the Mavericks , as their franchise - low was four before this game . Denver dominated the shooting and rebounding though , as they shot 44 percent to Dallas ' 41 percent and outrebounded them 44 to 34 . Despite playing shorthanded , the Mavericks got a much needed win in this matchup . They had lost six of seven before this , but this win put them in a tie for the eight - seed in the west . J.J. Barea was huge off the bench , as he tallied 18 points and 11 assists in the win . Dwight Powell got a rare start and led the starters with 16 points , while also snatching down seven boards . All five Dallas starters scored in double figures in their victory . On deck for Dallas is a matchup with the New York Knicks on Wednesday . Denver 's offense really struggled , as they turned the ball over far too often to win . Emmanuel Mudiay was one of the only bright spots , as he totaled 16 points , six rebounds and seven assists . Will Barton was solid off the bench , as he amassed a game - high 23 points and eight rebounds . Kenneth Faried made a return from a six - game absence to contribute nine points and 11 rebounds . Up next for the Nuggets is a matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday .


The Sacramento Kings ( 31 - 45 ) defeated the Denver Nuggets ( 32 - 46 ) 115 - 106 on Saturday . Denver came into this game as a sizable favorite and endured a disappointing loss to a dilluted Sacramento team . A 16 - 2 run in the third and fourth quarter is where the game was decided , as the Nuggets reserves really let it get away . The Kings shot 47 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free - throw line in their win , while holding denver to under 44 percent shooting . The Kigs played this game without DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo , but still pulled out the season sweep against the Nuggets . Rudy Gay did step up though , as he scored 25 points while grabbing nine rebounds . The bench was key for Sacramento , as the three players who came off the pine combined for 43 points , 16 rebounds and 10 assists . Darren Collison filled in nicely for Rondo , as he tallied 14 points , four rebounds and eight assists . Up next for the Kings is a matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday . This was a disappointing loss for Denver and an ugly performance . Will Barton really struggled , as he went 0 - for - 9 , for his second - straight game without a made basket . Gary Harris led the team with 19 points , while also grabbing four rebounds . Despite fouling out for the first time in his career , Emmanuel Mudiay finished the game with 15 points , three rebounds and six assists . On deck for the Nuggets is a matchup against the Oklahpma City Thunder on Tuesday .


The Oklahoma City Thunder ( 54 - 24 ) demolished the Denver Nuggets ( 32 - 47 ) on their home court on Tuesday , 124 - 102 . The Thunder 's Russell Westbrook grabbed headlines in the third quarter by earning his NBA-leading 17th triple - double of the year . Westbrook finished with 13 points , 14 rebounds , and 12 assists . The All-Star point guard 's mark is the most in over 25 seasons , and is far and away the most of Westbrook 's already - storied career . Also making a splash , as always , was forward Kevin Durant . KD chipped in 26 points , good for a team high , and also snagged eight rebounds . The Thunder remain comfortably third in the Western Conference . The Nuggets , meanwhile , have been eliminated from playoff contention . Denver was absolutely manhandled on the glass on Tuesday , losing out in rebounds 55 - 38 . Defense also played a big role in the defeat , as the Thunder got absolutely everything they wanted , converting on 53 percent of shots from the field . Denver , meanwhile , shot just a paltry 42 percent . The Thunder look poised for a first - place finish in the Northwest division , while the Nuggets remain steady at fourth . The Thunder will face off against Portland on Wednesday , while Denver will visit San Antonio on Friday .


The Denver Nuggets ( 33 - 47 ) defeated the San Antonio Spurs ( 65 - 14 ) 102 - 98 on Friday . The result looks to be a bizarre one on the surface , but the circumstances tell the whole story . San Antonio played this game without almost all of their starters and the Nuggets actually came into this game as a favorite . The key for Denver was their defense , as they held the Spurs to 42 percent from the field and 21 percent from three - point range . Two steals late capped off this win , as it led to the final four points of the game for the Nuggets . San Antonio is secure in the two - seed in the west , so this was a good opportunity to rest players and give away a loss . Tim Duncan was the one starter who played , and he led the team with 21 points and snatched down seven rebounds in the loss . Veterans David West and Kevin Martin both played well too , as they scored 17 points a piece . On deck for the Spurs is their toughest test of the season , as they host the Golden State Warriors to protect their perfect home record . Denver has been struggling recently , but they are now the only team in the league to beat the Golden State Warriors and the Spurs this season . Jusuf Nurkic scored a career - high 21 points , while recording nine rebounds , two blocks and two steals in a rare start . Nikola Jokic started next to Nurkic and snatched down 15 rebounds of his own in the win . Rookie Emmanuel Mudiay continued his impressive season , as he tallied 20 points , six rebounds and five assists . Up next for Denver is a matchup with the Utah Jazz on Sunday .


The Utah Jazz ( 40 - 40 ) earned a much - needed 100 - 84 win over the Denver Nuggets ( 33 - 48 ) on Sunday . Utah now holds a full game lead over Houston for eighth in the Western Conference . Utah finished out the third quarter on a massive 240 run , helping to establish a double - digit lead over the struggling Nuggets . Center Rudy Gobert was seemingly unmovable on the defensive end , blocking six shots and pulling down 14 rebounds . Forward Gordan Hayward , meanwhile , led the offensive push with 22 points . Rookie Trey Lyles also chipped in 22 . The Jazz were able to snap an ill - timed two - game slide with the big win , potentially securing a spot in the postseason after Sunday . Denver , meanwhile , had its playoff hopes dashed weeks ago and currently sits well below .500 . Denver 's big men could seemingly do nothing to stop the Stiffle Tower , as Gobert proved to be an absolute nightmare for the Nuggets . Denver was outrebounded 49 - 41 and also hit just six three - pointers to Utah 's 12 . Rookies Nikola Jokic and Emmanuel Mudiay tied for the team lead in points with 19 . Utah will face Dallas on Monday in a matchup with major playoff implications .


The Memphis Grizzlies ( 1 - 1 ) defeated the Indiana Pacers ( 0 - 2 ) by a score of 112 - 103 on Thursday . The Pacers shifted Paul George back to his typical small forward spot before Thursday 's game , and gave offseason acquisition Jordan Hill his first start at power forward . The series of moves left opening night starting small forward , C.J . Miles , in a bench role , but the change did n't affect the veteran 's offense . Miles equaled his opening night scoring total of 18 points , and drained another four buckets from three - point range , just as he had versus the Raptors on Wednesday . After a dismal offensive showing in the opener versus the Cavaliers , the Grizzlies put together a balanced offensive attack to derail the Pacers , benefiting from a particularly productive night from their bench . Three veteran subs - - Jeff Green , Matt Barnes , and Beno Udrih - - tallied double - digit scoring , while Brandan Wright came just short with a nine - point effort . Marc Gasol led all Grizzlies starters with a gritty performance that saw him collect 20 points while hauling in eight boards , including a team - high seven on the defensive glass . Much like Miles , his Pacers counterpart at small forward , Green thrived in a reduced role after having started on opening night , coming in second in bench scoring for Memphis on Thursday with 12 points . The Grizzlies evened their record at 1 - 1 and momentarily slot a half game behind the Dallas Mavericks for first place in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference , pending the late Thursday outcome of the Mavericks-Clippers contest . Memphis heads home to face off against the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday . The Pacers put together a respectable offensive showing , but faltered down the stretch for their second consecutive defeat . Indiana entered the fourth quarter nursing a 75 - 73 lead , but saw the Grizzlies explode for 39 points in the final period to pull away . With two starters scoring in the single digits , Indiana placed the primary offensive load on the shoulders of Paul George and George Hill , who contributed 18 and 20 points , respectively . Miles also made his contributions off the bench to help keep the Pacers close for the majority of the game . Jordan Hill hauled in six boards in his first start but struggled offensively , amassing only four points . Fellow offseason signing Monta Ellis had trouble finding the net for the second consecutive game , shooting only 25 percent from the field ( 3 - for - 12 ) after a 27 percent night in the opener Wednesday . The Pacers fall to 0 - 2 and a last - place tie with the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference 's Central Division . They head home for a date with the Utah Jazz on Saturday .


The Utah Jazz ( 2 - 1 ) handed the Indiana Pacers ( 0 - 3 ) their third loss in a row Saturday night.The Pacers led 49 - 42 at halftime , but the Jazz came out strong in the second half , outscoring the Pacers 55 - 27 . The end result was a 97 - 76 victory for Utah.The Jazz were led by their young big men Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors . Gobert had nine points , 17 rebounds and two blocks , while Favors added 18 points , seven rebounds , and three steals . Rodney Hood shot a very respectable 8 - for - 13 from the field , tallying 17 points . He also chipped in on defense with an impressive five rebounds and four steals.The Pacers had probably their worst game of the season so far in this 21-point loss . George Hill put up 17 points and six rebounds . Monta Ellis chipped in 12 points and three assists , while Paul George had a decent game with 16 points on 6 - for - 11 shooting . The Pacers lacked good ball movement , resulting in only 10 assists as a team , and also lacked production from the bench . Only 20 points came from the Indiana bench versus 42 from the Utah bench.Both teams have a couple days off as the Pacers will be back in action Tuesday at Detroit , while the Jazz wait until Wednesday to host Portland .


The Indiana Pacers ( 2 - 3 ) defeated the Boston Celtics ( 1 - 3 ) 100 - 98 on Wednesday in Indianapolis . After getting off to a hot start and outscoring the Celtics 23 - 16 in the first quarter , the Pacers looked as if they could run away with this game . The Celtics had something to say about that , though , bringing themselves back to within one point going into the fourth . Down five points in the fourth , Avery Bradley hit two clutch shots to tie the game with just a minute left in regulation . However , Monta Ellis then came right back and put the Pacers up two after getting fouled and making both free - throw attempts , to which the Celtics were n't able to muster a response . The Pacers rode the hot hand of Paul George in this one . He put up a team - high of 26 points , 15 of which came in the first half , while also adding 10 rebounds . The double - double was his second of the year , bringing his season averages up to 19 points and 8 rebounds per game . With starting center Ian Mahinmi out due to a back injury , Jordan Hill made the start in the middle . Hill took advantage of the extra time , pitching in with a double - double of his own with 16 points ( 7 - 14 FG , 2 - 2 FT ) , 10 rebounds , and two steals over 29 minutes . The point , rebound , and steal totals were all season highs for the sixth - year big man . Including the two game - sealing free throws , Monta Ellis also chipped in with 13 points ( 5 - 15 FG , 1 - 4 3Pt , 2 - 2 FT ) , five rebounds , and eight assists . The Celtics came into this matchup dealing with an important injury of their own , as Marcus Smart was held out with a sprained left big toe . Starting in his place , Isaiah Thomas did n't disappoint , shooting 9 - for - 19 from the field and 4 - for - 7 from the three - point line to score a game - high 27 points . He also added seven assists . He 's had a fantastic start to this season and was already averaging 22 points , 1 rebounds , and 6 assists per game heading into the matchup . Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder were the other two starters in double figures . Bradley finished with 21 points ( 8 - 16 FG , 3 - 8 3Pt , 2 - 2 FT ) and five rebounds , while Crowder added 12 points ( 3 - 5 FG , 1 - 2 3Pt , 5 - 8 FT ) and six rebounds . The Celtics will next head on the road to take on the Washington Wizards on Friday , while the Pacers will remain at home and play the Miami Heat on Friday .


The Indiana Pacers ( 3 - 3 ) sported their new alternative uniforms as they edged the Miami Heat ( 3 - 3 ) 90 - 87 in a back - and - fourth match on Friday night . The game was tied with two minutes remaining , but some clutch free - throw shooting allowed the Pacers to take the edge over the Heat . Chris Bosh had a big game for the Heat , notching a double - double with 21 points and 11 rebounds . The only other players for Miami to score double digits were Goran Dragic with 11 and rookie Justise Winslow with 13 . Winslow also added eight rebounds . Hassan Whiteside continued his good work in the paint with eight points , 12 rebounds , and a big four blocks . The Heat lacked offensive depth and missed Gerald Green , who is still out with an undisclosed medical issue . Indiana has taken nothing for granted so far this season , and is grinding out every game , and was rewarded with the W for their efforts Friday . Paul George delivered a strong performance Friday night with 36 points , 12 rebounds , three assists , three steals , and one block . George Hill added 12 points and four assists on 3 - of - 4 shooting from distance . Jordan Hill notched a double - double off the bench with 10 points and 10 rebounds . Monta Ellis had a quiet shooting night , going only 2 - of - 8 , scoring only four points but he did dish a solid eight assists and grabbed four rebounds . Both teams are off Saturday and get back into action on Sunday , when Indiana visits the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami hosts the Toronto Raptors .


The Pacers ( 4 - 4 ) pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 97 - 84 win over the Magic ( 3 - 5 ) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Monday . In a back - and - forth contest , Indiana was able to outscore Orlando 25 - 14 in the final frame to draw even at .500 on the season . Paul George scored 19 of his 27 points in the first half and added seven assists and four rebounds in 36 minutes . The Magic had another tough time scoring down low with center Nikola Vucevic sidelined for the third straight game because of a knee injury . Jason Smith was also out with a knee injury of his own . With two important forwards on the skids , Orlando employed Channing Frye , who finished 4 - of - 9 from distance with 14 points and eight rebounds in 23 minutes . Evan Fournier has gotten back on track after struggling against Toronto last Friday , pouring in 21 points with four treys in 40 minutes . George has given Pacers ' fans something to get excited about , looking better and better every game . He 's averaging just over 30 points per game and has three double - double 's over his last four contests . George Hill remained one of the hottest shooters in the NBA , scoring 23 points and hitting four from downtown to provide Indiana with plenty of secondary scoring behind George . Guard Rodney Stuckey briefly left the game due to an ankle injury , but was able to return finishing with just six points in 18 minutes . The Magic head home to take on the Lakers on Wednesday , while the Pacers will travel to Boston for a date with the Celtics .


Despite an incredible late - game push by the Minnesota Timberwolves ( 4 - 5 ) , the Indiana Pacers ( 6 - 4 ) walked away with the win , recording a final score of 107 - 103 . Paul George continued to prove to the world that he 's as good as ever , recording 29 points , nine rebounds , and four assists while turning the ball over just once in 39 minutes of play . George has looked dominant since missing the bulk of the 2014 - 15 season with a leg fracture , posting averages of 24 points and 9 rebounds per game . The Pacers now have a three - game win streak going , due in large part to the elite play of George . Offseason acquisition Monta Ellis also exploded for 24 points on efficient 11 - for - 17 shooting . Center Ian Mahinmi saw an increase in playtime after it was announced that rookie big man Myles Turner ( hand ) will miss at least the next four weeks with a chip fracture in his thumb . Turner may be missed by the already thin Pacers frontcourt ; however , his presence was unnecessary on Friday , as the Pacers were able to win the rebounding battle 40 - 39 . With point guard Ricky Rubio ( hamstring ) sidelined , sophomore Zach LaVine was given the reigns to the Minnesota offense . LaVine played 40 minutes , switching from running the point to playing shooting guard alongside veteran Andre Miller . LaVine went for a season - high 26 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists . Rookie Karl-Anthony Towns narrowly missed yet another double - double , recording 12 points and nine rebounds in 27 minutes on the floor . The Wolves will look to bounce back at home on Sunday , as they prepare to take on a Western-Conference foe in the Memphis Grizzlies . The Pacers , meanwhile , will look to extend their win streak on Monday in Chicago as they take on the Bulls , a division rival .


No Milwaukee player managed above 11 points as the Bucks ( 5 - 8 ) were pulverized by the Indiana Pacers ( 8 - 5 ) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse . The Pacers have now won five or their last six , due in large part to the extremely high - caliber play of star small forward Paul George . Despite having an off shooting night ( just 6 - for - 17 ) , George contributed positively to the Indiana effort , tallying seven rebounds and seven assists whle playing outstanding perimeter defense . Indiana on the whole shot the lights out , hitting 52 percent of their shots from the field and 50 percent of their three - point attempts . Indiana 's team defense also looked beautiful , as the Bucks were held to just 29 percent from beyond the arc and committed 23 turnovers . While things were firing on all cyllinders for Indiana , the same did n't hold true on the Bucks ' side of things . 20 - year - old small forward Giannis `` The Greek Freak `` Antetenkoumpo had a rare inefficient night from the field , tallying just nine points on 3 - for - 8 shooting . Point guard Michael Carter-Williams also struggled , posting just three assists while turning the ball over three times . Saturday marked the Bucks ' third straight loss , a trend they will look to combat as they prepare for a home matchup against the Pistons . The Pacers , meanwhile , will look to continue their hot streak as they travel to Washington to take on the Wizards .


The Indiana Pacers ( 10 - 5 ) beat the Chicago Bulls ( 9 - 5 ) 104 - 92 on Friday . The Bulls have earned had a reputation as a gritty , blue - collar team that tends to dominate in the paint , with rebounders such as Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah often leading the way . However , the Indiana Pacers ' performance Friday may be indicative of a changing of the guard in the Eastern Conference 's Central Division , where both teams reside . The home team largely controlled matters down low , hauling in a collective 51 boards and scoring 42 of their 104 points in the paint , as compared to 28 for the Bulls . Point guard George Hill and reserve forward Lavoy Allen surprisingly spearheaded the Pacers ' rebounding efforts with 10 apiece , and Ian Mahinmi ( 9 ) and Paul George ( 8 ) pitched in with strong board totals as well . Indiana 's frontcourt had been particularly maligned early in the season , but Mahinmi appears to be settling in nicely as the unquestioned starting center , and players like Allen and George have been making consistently strong contributions around the basket as well . Hill could only muster six points to go along with the 10 rebounds , but others picked up the slack scoring - wise . George followed up a 40 - point outburst versus Washington on Tuesday with a 33 - point effort , while C.J . Miles continued his string of strong offensive showings with 16 points . Mahinmi and Monta Ellis rounded out a strong night for Indiana 's starting five with 15 and 14 points , respectively . Allen poured in 12 to pace the Pacers ' bench and tally his first double - double of the season . The Pacers improved to 10 - 5 and currently reside in second place in the Eastern Conference 's Central Division . They head to Los Angeles to face off against the Lakers on Sunday . The Bulls were lead by Nikola Mirotic , who totaled a season - high 25 points to go along with seven rebounds , two assists and a block . Jimmy Butler ( 16 points , five rebounds , five assists , two steals and two blocks ) and Derrick Rose ( 10 points , six rebounds , five assists , a steal and a block ) were the only other Chicago starters to manage double - digit scoring . Notably , Gasol totaled only nine points , marking his third single - digit scoring night of the season . He did manage 11 boards , giving him double - digit rebounds in five of his last six outings . Kirk Hinrich led the reserves with 11 points over 22 minutes . Chicago fell to 9 - 5 and currently resides in third place in the Eastern Conference 's Central Division . They head home for a date with the Spurs on Monday .


The Golden State Warriors ( 230 ) defeated the Indiana Pacers ( 12 - 8 ) 131 - 123 at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indiana on Tuesday . This one was never in doubt , as the Warriors raced out to a 44 - 28 lead after the first quarter and never looked back . Golden State continues to rewrite NBA history , becoming the first team to start a season with 23 consecutive victories . They are now just 10 wins away from tying the 1971 - 72 Lakers for the longest winning streak of all time at 33 games . For the Warriors , Klay Thompson finished with 39 points , seven rebounds and six assists after scoring 17 in the first quarter . Stephen Curry put up 29 points , seven rebounds and 10 assists in another vintage performance , while Andrew Bogut contributed his second double - double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds to go along with a game - high 31 rating . The Pacers got a couple of excellent performances despite the loss , led by Paul George 's 33 points , eight rebounds , and six assists . C.J . Miles added 24 points on 8 - of - 15 shooting , but nobody else managed to score more than 12 points . Both teams are off until Friday , at which point the Warriors will travel to Boston for the sixth game of a seven - game road trip while the Pacers host the Heat .


The Indiana Pacers ( 13 - 8 ) jumped ahead of the Miami Heat ( 12 - 9 ) in the standings after beating them 96 - 83 on Friday . Coming fresh off a loss to the powerhouse Golden State Warriors , the Pacers looked determined to prove themselves in the contest against their fellow Eastern Conference contender . Guard Monta Ellis , coming off a cold streak coupled with a back injury , took over the game , pouring in 24 points and dishing out six assists while racking up a whopping six steals . Of course , the always - dominant Paul George continued to establish himself as an MVP contender , recording 23 points and eight rebounds in the win . The Heat played a solid defensive game , but ultimately saw their downfall come in the form of turnovers as they coughed the ball up 19 times . Stars Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade , however , looked as electric as ever , with Bosh recording 23 points , 10 rebounds , and three blocks , and Wade posting 20 points , five rebounds , and five assists . Both teams have had strong starts to the season , which they will look to further in their upcoming matchups . The Heat will take on the Grizzlies on Sunday , while the Pacers play host to the Pistons in the second half of a back - to - back .


The Indiana Pacers ( 14 - 9 ) defeated the Toronto Raptors ( 16 - 10 ) 106 - 90 on Monday . The first quarter was one of extreme swings for both teams . Toronto opened the game on an eye - popping 26 - 5 run during which linchpins Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan tallied 10 and nine points , respectively . The resilient Pacers then came back with a jaw - dropping 220 response , consisting of contributions from Jordan Hill , Rodney Stuckey , Paul George and Monta Ellis . From that point forward , Indiana outscored Toronto 79 - 64 , while absolutely dominating down low . The Pacers managed 48 points in the paint for the game , as compared to only 20 by the Raptors . The vistors received a pair of 20 - point efforts from the backcourt duo of Lowry and DeRozan , although each played their best ball in the frenetic opening period . Terrence Ross was the only other starter with double - digit scoring ( 10 ) , and Bismack Biyombo was only one point short of a double - double . He also pitched in 13 rebounds , his second game with as many boards in the last five contests . Patrick Patterson paced the Toronto bench with nine points , five rebounds and a steal . The Raptors fell to 16 - 10 but remain in first place in the Eastern Conference 's Atlantic Division . They head to Charlotte to face off against the Hornets on Thursday . For a change , the Pacers had a top scorer not named Paul George . While the All-Star small forward had a solid performance with 16 points , three rebounds , three assists and a steal , it was offseason acquisition and reserve Jordan Hill who spearheaded the offensive attack Monday . The veteran center equaled his season high with 20 points , while hauling in a season - best 13 boards over 31 minutes . A big man who 's always been known more for his offensive prowess , Hill has now managed five double - digit scoring efforts in seven December games . C. J . Miles ( 17 points ) and Ellis ( 18 points ) joined George as the other starters with double - digit points , while Stuckey checked in as the other notable scorer off the bench ( 10 points ) . The Pacers improved to 14 - 9 and remain in third place in the Eastern Conference 's Central Division . They are home for a showdown with the Mavericks on Wednesday .


Indiana Pacers ( 15 - 9 ) dominate in second half to defeat Dallas Mavericks ( 14 - 12 ) 107 - 81 on Wednesday . It 's not too often that a veteran team like the Mavericks will just collapse in the second half , but they did that on Wednesday . In fact , they were outscored 62 - 34 in the final 24 minutes and the game was decided early in the fourth quarter . The shooting for Dallas was terrible , as they shot 37 percent to Indiana 's 48 percent . The Pacers also had 28 assists to the Mavericks 16 , so it was just poor offense from the Mavs all night long . Dallas actually had a small lead at halftime , but came out flat in the second half . There were only two starters who scored into double - figures and nobody scored more than 16 points . Raymond Felton led the team with 16 points and Zaza Pachulia led the team with 14 rebounds . Dirk Nowitzki , Wesley Matthews and Deron Williams combined to shoot 11 - for - 36 from the field in the loss and that simply wo n't get it done . Dallas will look to bounce - back when they host the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday . The Pacers had no player score more than 20 points on Wednesday , but played some great team - ball . They assisted on 28 of their 43 baskets and had three players score between 19 and 20 points . Those three players include Paul George , C.J . Miles , and Monta Ellis , who played against his former team . The starters committed just four turnovers as well and that 's always a good recipe for a blowout . Indiana will look to build off this win when they take on the Brooklyn Nets on Friday .


The Indiana Pacers ( 16 - 9 ) dealt the Brooklyn Nets ( 7 - 19 ) their fourth straight loss on Friday , winning 104 - 97 . Despite struggles from some of their starters , including star Paul George ( seven turnovers ) and guard Monta Ellis ( 1 - for - 8 shooting , two points ) , the Pacers were able to comfortably defeat Brooklyn for their fourth win in five games . Indiana 's strong showing can be attributed largely to their bench , as sixth man Rodney Stuckey racked up 15 points , while backup big man Jordan Hill recorded a 14 - point , 11 - rebound double - double . The win puts Indiana just one game behind the Cavaliers for the first seed in the Eastern Conference . While Brooklyn got off to a hot start in the month of December , they now face a four - game losing streak and remain the second - worst team in the Eastern Conference . Even in the face of the loss , Thaddeus Young 's surprising rebounding renaissance continued , with the power forward pulling down 14 boards , including six offensive . Young is averaging nine rebounds per game on the season , almost four more than his career average . Point guard Jarrett Jack also impressed , tallying 26 points to go with nine rebounds and six assists . The dominance of Indiana and comeback star Paul George has been one of the biggest surprises of the 2015 - 16 season . With the Pacers on a tear lately , they will carry strong momentum into their matchup in Memphis on Saturday . The Nets , meanwhile , continue to struggle . They will hope to capitalize on a manageable matchup against the aching Timberwolves on Sunday .


The Sacramento Kings ( 12 - 17 ) defeated the Indiana Pacers ( 16 - 12 ) by a score of 108 - 106 , Wednesday night , in Indianapolis . The Kings buckled down in the last two minutes , scoring four points straight to go from down by two , to up by two and hold on for the victory . Paul George had a decent last - second jumper attempt but it did not fall . DeMarcus Cousins was a beast as usual and had 18 points and 11 rebounds before half time . He finished with 25 points ( 8 - 19 FG , 9 - 10 FT ) , along with 16 rebounds , three blocked shots and one assist , in 35 minutes . Cousins also sunk two clutch , last - minute free throws , which gave the Kings the win . Darren Collison played 35 minutes off the bench and finished with a productive 24 points ( 11 - 17 FG , 2 - 5 3Pt ) , four rebounds and five assists . Rajon Rondo was dropping dimes as he finished with 13 points ( 6 - 10 FG ) , 16 assists and eight rebounds , however his nine turnovers tarnish the beautiful stat line . Omri Casspi continued his strong play , finishing with 15 points ( 6 - 11 FG , 2 - 5 3Pt ) and 11 rebounds , in 41 minutes . Monta Ellis had an efficient shooting night and led the Pacers , with 21 points on 8 - 13 shooting from the field and 3 - 5 from deep , along with six assists , two rebounds and three steals . George Hill dropped 20 points ( 7 - 14 FG , 4 - 10 3Pt , 2 - 2 FT ) , five assists , four rebounds and three steals . C.J . Miles also chipped in 20 points ( 7 - 15 FG , 4 - 9 3Pt ) , along with three assists and three rebounds . Paul George struggled shooting , going 5 - 19 from the field but still stacked up a double - double with 12 points and 10 rebounds , as well as five assists and one steal . The Pacers scored well enough but could not slow down the Kings , who shot 51 percent from the field , mostly on inside scoring . Next up for the Pacers will visit Minnesota for a game on Saturday , where they will look to break their current three - game losing streak . The Kings will have a long rest before they host the Trail Blazers on Sunday .


The Indiana Pacers ( 18 - 12 ) snapped the Atlanta Hawks ' ( 20 - 13 ) six - game win streak with a 93 - 87 victory Monday night in Indiana . This was the first match of the season between these two teams who both find themselves in the tight race for top spots in the East . After a strong first quarter by the Hawks , the Pacers finished the second quarter on a 16 - 4 run , to put themselves up 52 - 40 going into half . The Pacers held strong the rest of the way and came up with an impressive win . C.J . Miles was sidelined with a sore back so Lavoy Allen picked up the start for Indiana . Allen had two points and six rebounds , in 20 minutes . Monta Ellis came up big for the Pacers , with 26 points ( 10 - 20 FG , 4 - 9 3Pt , 2 - 2 FT ) , two assists , three rebounds and two steals , in 36 minutes . Ian Mahinmi chipped in 13 points and nine rebounds , in 24 minutes while , Solomon Hill picked up some of the slack in the absence of Miles and finished with a season - high 10 points , three rebounds and two steals , in 25 minutes . The Hawks were not on their A-game as they gave up 13 turnovers , leading to 20 points for Indiana , in the first half alone . They gave up a total of 22 turnovers on the night . Paul Millsap led his team in scoring with 24 points ( 9 - 17 FG , 2 - 5 3Pt , 4 - 5 FT ) , along with seven rebounds , four steals and two assists , in 38 minutes . Jeff Teague finished with 18 points , five rebounds and four assists , but had six turnovers in 35 minutes . Thabo Sefolosha was efficient off the bench , shooting 6 - 8 from the field , on his way to 14 points . He also contributed seven rebounds , three assists and two steals , in 27 minutes . The Hawks will now move on to Houston , where they will play their second game of a three - game road trip , which will also be the second of a back to back , on Tuesday night . The Pacers will wait until Wednesday to engage in another big Eastern Conference match - up , this time on the road , in Chicago .


The Milwaukee Bucks ( 13 - 21 ) defeated the Indiana Pacers ( 18 - 14 ) 120 - 116 on Thursday . The New Year 's Eve showdown between the two Central Division rivals was atypical in a number of ways . To begin with , one of the rarest sights in the NBA this season , a Bucks road victory , came to pass , and against a quality opponent to boot . The Pacers had entered Thursday 's contest sporting an impressive 11 - 5 home record and playing quality basketball overall . Meanwhile , Milwaukee had managed a paltry three wins in 18 tries away from the Bradley Center , including consecutive road losses to the Mavericks and Thunder preceding Thursday 's game . They 'd also struggled offensively the majority of the year , often failing to even reach 100 points over the first 30 games of the season . However , the light has seemingly come on for Milwaukee , and their side of the scoreboard , over their last two outings . After tallying 123 points in the loss to Oklahoma City on Wednesday , the Bucks roared right back with another outstanding night on offense , shooting a stellar 58 percent from the field and 43 percent from beyond the arc . They also managed 35 of their points off 20 Indiana turnovers . As it turned out , they needed every one of those buckets before all was said and done , with the Pacers coming on strong with a 39 - point fourth quarter to make things close until the final seconds . Milwaukee was once again led by standout guard Khris Middleton , who is in the midst of one of the hottest shooting stretches of his four - year career . The Texas A & M product has now shot 63 percent from the field over his last two games , and collected 69 points in the process . Thursday , Middleton managed 33 points , five rebounds , four assists , a block and a pair of steals to lead all scorers , including an impressive 4 - for - 6 performance from three - point range . Greg Monroe pitched in with 23 points and three rebounds of his own , while Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed a pair of 14 - point efforts . The former added three rebounds and an assist , while the latter had an outstanding defensive game as well , contributing six rebounds , four blocks and three steals . Michael Carter-Williams closed out a remarkable night for the starters with a stat - sheet - stuffing 11 - point , seven - rebound , eight - assist effort that also included three steals and three blocks . Jerryd Bayless paced the Bucks ' reserves with 14 points as well . The Bucks improved to 13 - 21 but remain in last place in the Eastern Conference 's Central Division . They now head to Minnesota for a Saturday showdown versus the Timberwolves . Indiana 's starting five enjoyed a highly productive night , and were encouragingly led by a resurgent effort from All-Star Paul George , who 'd been struggling considerably with his shot in recent games . The small forward exploded for 31 points on the strength of 8 of 13 shooting from the field , including a 5 - for - 9 performance from long distance . After having shot an abysmal 28 percent ( 23 - for - 83 ) over the previous five contests , Thursday 's result was a particularly welcome sight for George and the Pacers . C.J . Miles shook off an ailing back to support George 's effort with 19 points , five rebounds , an assist and a steal . George Hill followed with a 15 - point , six - rebound , three - assist night that also included a block . Lavoy Allen continued to thrive in his starting opportunities in place of the ailing Ian Mahinmi , collecting 14 points and supplementing the scoring with four rebounds , three assists , a steal and a block . Monta Ellis poured in 13 points and dished out seven assists , while Rodney Stuckey and Myles Turner led the reserves with a pair of eight - point efforts . The Pacers fell to 18 - 14 and currently reside in third place in the Eastern Conference 's Central Division . They remain home to face the Detroit Pistons on Saturday .


The Indiana Pacers ( 19 - 14 ) defeated the Detroit Pistons ( 18 - 16 ) 94 - 82 on Saturday . Indiana came into Saturday 's contest as one of the top defensive units in the Eastern Conference , tied for fourth - best in points allowed ( 99 per game ) . However , this same Pistons squad had gotten the best of them when they 'd last faced off , Dec. 12 at the Palace in Detroit . The Pacers had been touched up for 118 points that night , and Indiana was apparently ready to exact some revenge Saturday . Their suffocating defense negated any possibility of an encore performance by limiting Detroit to 36 percent shooting from the field and an astoundingly minuscule 15 percent ( 3 - for - 20 ) from beyond the arc . They allowed a high scorer of only 16 points ( Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ) and also wore the visitors down in the second half , taking the final two quarters by a margin of 53 - 40 to close out the victory . Caldwell-Pope supplemented his team - high point total with a season - high 10 rebounds and one assist . Reggie Jackson and Ersan Ilyasova followed with a pair of 12 - point efforts , with the former adding five assists and three rebounds and the latter pitching in seven rebounds , an assist and a steal . Andre Drummond did contribute yet another double - double , posting 11 points , 18 rebounds , a pair of blocks and a steal . Marcus Morris helped make it a perfect 5 - for - 5 in terms of double - digit scoring for the starters , collecting 11 points of his own and adding four assists and a pair of rebounds . Aron Baynes paced the Detroit bench with 10 points and three boards . The Pistons dropped to 18 - 16 and remain in fourth place in the Eastern Conference 's Central Division . They head home to face the Orlando Magic on Monday . For Indiana , Paul George encouragingly continued his resurgent play , tallying a huge 32 - point , 14 - rebound double - double that he supplemented with a trio of assists and a steal . After a slump in late December , George now has back - to - back 30 - point - plus performances . George Hill extended his own streak of strong offensive play by posting 18 points and adding four rebounds , an assist and a steal . Monta Ellis was the third starter in double digits with 13 points , while C.J . Miles and Jordan Hill managed matching eight - point outings to lead the reserves . The starting frontcourt duo of Ian Mahinmi and Lavoy Allen notably underwhelmed with a combined three points , but did haul in 11 boards between them . The Pacers improved to 19 - 14 and continue in third place in the Eastern Conference 's Central Division . They now head to Miami for a Monday showdown versus the Heat .


The Indiana Pacers ( 22 - 16 ) defeated the Phoenix Suns ( 13 - 27 ) 116 - 97 on Tuesday . The already - decimated Suns entered Tuesday 's tough road tilt in an even further weakened state , as Brandon Knight was ruled out earlier in the day with an illness . That left Phoenix with a very young starting backcourt of Archie Goodwin and Devin Booker , and both acquitted themselves the best of all five starters . Meanwhile , even a 30 - minute power outage failed to derail a sharpshooting Pacers squad , who managed to drain 52 percent of their attempts from the field , and post a 42 percent tally from three - point range . Indiana was equally proficient on the defensive end , taking the ball from the outmanned visitors 19 times and converting those turnovers into 27 points . Goodwin and Booker contributed 12 and 19 - point efforts , respectively , as the only Suns starters with double - digit scoring . Both players also pitched in with a pair of rebounds and assists apiece . P.J . Tucker did haul in a solid 10 rebounds , but only was able to pitch in a modest five points and hand out five assists . The rest of the notable offensive contributions came from the Phoenix bench , with Mirza Teletovic leading the charge with 19 points , five rebounds and a pair of assists . Markieff Morris contributed 16 points , nine rebounds , an assist and a steal over 27 minutes , his best performance by far since a season - high 28 - point outburst against the Spurs on Nov. 23 . T.J. Warren was the third reserve with double - digit scoring , amassing 10 points , four rebounds , four assists and a steal . The Suns fell to 13 - 27 and remain in fourth place in the Western Conference 's Pacific Division . They now head to Boston for a Friday night showdown versus the Celtics . Indiana enjoyed solid nights from all members of their starting five , led by Paul George 's 21 points , seven rebounds , an assist , two steals and two blocks . George Hill was a close runner - up , managing 20 points , five assists and three rebounds . His backcourt mate Monta Ellis poured in 14 points , dished out seven assists and tallied four steals , as he and Hill exploited the inexperience of the Suns ' backcourt for the evening . Ian Mahinmi continued his solid play with 10 points five rebounds , two assists and two steals , while Lavoy Allen rounded things out for the first unit with a productive eight points and seven boards . C.J . Miles came off the bench to play 31 minutes and amass an impressive 19 points , eight rebounds , two assists , a steal and a block . The Pacers improved to 22 - 16 and moved into sole possession of third place in the Eastern Conference 's Central Division . They head to Boston to take on the Celtics on Wednesday .


The Washington Wizards ( 19 - 19 ) defeated the Indiana Pacers ( 22 - 18 ) 118 - 104 on Friday . The Wizards have already dealt with the loss of an integral component for an extended stretch this season , and that experience is serving them well in the wake of the latest injury to a key cog of their team . Marcin Gortat is dealing with a series of knee complications that includes an infection , and has missed the last three games as a result . In his stead , Nene Hilario has stepped up with three solid performances , but multiple players elevated their respective games on the glass Friday to help make up for the big man 's absence . The Wizards managed an outstanding 54 rebounds , including 37 on the defensive end . Meanwhile , Washington also shot a solid 52 percent from the field , and an equally impressive 44 percent from three - point range , leading to a relatively comfortable victory . John Wall spearheaded the Wizards ' attack once again , posting a game - high 28 points and also tallying seven rebounds , eight assists and a steal . No other starter tallied double - digit scoring , but Hilario did match his eight points with eight boards , and added two assists , a steal and a block . Garrett Temple made another start in place of Beal , and contributed five points , six rebounds and five assists . However , Beal significantly outplayed him off the bench , posting 22 points , five rebounds and an assist over 22 minutes . DeJuan Blair and Gary Neal pitched in with a pair of 12 - point efforts , with the former adding six rebounds , an assist and a pair of steals , and the latter managing four boards and three assists . Ramon Sessions was the fourth reserve with a double - digit point total , stuffing the stat sheet over 23 minutes with 10 points , five assists , three rebounds and two steals . The Wizards improved to 19 - 19 and currently reside in fourth place in the Eastern Conference 's Southeast Division . They head to Boston to face the Celtics on Saturday . The Pacers were paced by Paul George , who tallied 21 points , seven assists , five rebounds , three steals and a block . George Hill , questionable before the game for personal reasons , played 34 minutes and posted 19 points , eight rebounds , an assist and a steal . Monta Ellis made it a solid night for the Indiana backcourt with 17 points , three rebounds , three assists , a steal and a block . Lavoy Allen led the Indiana reserves with 15 points , three rebounds and an assist . The Pacers fell to 22 - 18 and currently reside in third place in the Eastern Conference 's Central Division . They now head to Denver for a Sunday showdown on Sunday .


The Los Angeles Clippers ( 29 - 16 ) defeated the Indiana Pacers ( 23 - 22 ) 91 - 89 on Tuesday . The Clippers found out earlier in the day that superstar forward Blake Griffin will be sidelined for much longer than originally anticipated , but his problematic quadriceps tendon is n't the cause . Instead , it 's a broken right hand allegedly suffered during an altercation with a team employee in Toronto that will apparently keep him out 4 - 6 additional weeks . His continued absence keeps the spotlight squarely on Chris Paul , who has more often than not already served as the team 's scoring leader during the time Griffin has already missed . The All-Star point guard did not disappoint in that role Tuesday , scoring a team - high 26 points and adding seven assists , six rebounds and a steal . With only J.J. Redick joining him as a starter with double - digit points , Paul 's contributions were integral in a tough road victory . Redick was solid himself with 19 points , two rebounds , two assists and a steal . DeAndre Jordan cleaned up on the glass , particularly on the defensive end , tallying 19 boards , 15 which were off missed Pacers shots . He also added nine points , two assists and three blocks . Wesley Johnson paced the Clippers bench with 15 points , and supplemented it with an assist and a steal . With the victory , Los Angeles remains in second place in the Western Conference 's Pacific Division . They now head to Atlanta to take on the Hawks on Wednesday . Indiana was unsurprisingly led by Paul George , who tallied 31 points , 11 rebounds , three assists , a steal and a block . Ten of those points came in the fourth quarter , when George managed to get the Pacers within their final two - point margin of defeat by draining a three - pointer with 28 seconds remaining . George Hill posted 15 points , two assists , a rebound and a steal . Ian Mahinmi returned from a three - game absence due to ankle and heel ailments to post a 12 - point , 10 - rebound double - double , which he complemented with a pair of assists and a pair of steals . Standout rookie Myles Turner managed to extend his stretch of impressive play despite Mahinmi 's return , registering 16 points , six rebounds and a block over a highly efficient 18 minutes to lead the Indiana reserves . With the loss , the Pacers currently reside in fourth place in the Eastern Conference 's Central Division . They await the Atlanta Hawks for a Thursday matchup at home .


The Indiana Pacers ( 24 - 22 ) picked up a key Eastern Conference home win Thursday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse over the Atlanta Hawks ( 27 - 21 ) , 111 - 92 . The Pacers led for over 30 straight minutes , from 23 - 20 with 1:44 left in the first quarter all the way until the Hawks took a 90 - 88 lead off an Al Horford dunk with 5:55 to remain in the game . But the Pacers were n't fazed , as they would allow just one more basket for the rest of the game as they stepped on the gas and pulled away for good with a 23 - 2 run to close the game . Monta Ellis was on fire from three - point land , as he knocked down five of his seven shots from deep and finished with 25 points , six assists and five steals to lead the Pacers . George Hill knocked down three three - pointers tto fuel an 18 - point , eight - rebound night , and Myles Turner notched an efficient 20 points in 26 minutes to help hide a rare off night from Paul George ( 2 - 11 FG , 11 points ) . Jeff Teague led the Hawks with 20 points and dished a team - high five assists , but he was one of the rare bright spots for a stagnant Hawks offense that managed just 40 percent from the field . Al Horford scored 14 on 6 - 12 shooting and Thabo Sefolosha had a sharp 13 points on 4 - 7 shooting off the bench , but the Hawks just could not connect from deep . Kyle Korver managed just 1 - 7 from three - point land , and the team finished a brutal 7 - 28 ( 25 percent ) . Atlanta next faces the Heat this Sunday in Miami . The Pacers will remain at home for a matchup against the Nuggets on Saturday .


The Indiana Pacers ( 25 - 22 ) defeated the Denver Nuggets ( 18 - 30 ) 109 - 105 in overtime on Saturday . A terrific back - and - forth Saturday night shootout ended in a hard - fought victory for the Pacers , whose aggressiveness on offense was a key to withstanding a feisty Nugggets squad . Indiana put up a robust 100 shot attempts on the night , including a team - high 28 from sharpshooting guard Monta Ellis . The veteran drained 13 of those tries on his way to a team - high 32 points . Even though he missed a three - point jumper as time expired in regulation , his driving layup with 20 seconds remaining in overtime helped Indiana extend their lead to 108 - 105 . He also drew a shooting foul from Kenneth Faried on the play , and sunk the subsequent free throw for the final margin of victory . Danilo Gallinari led the way for Denver with 23 points , three rebounds , two assists and a steal . Gary Harris was right behind him , tallying 18 points , three assists , a rebound , a steal and a block . Nikola Jokic and Kenneth Faried turned in a pair of 16 - point efforts that were also double - doubles . The former hauled in 11 boards , two assists and recorded an outstanding five steals , while the latter posted 12 rebounds and managed a steal as well . Emmanuel Mudiay rounded out a strong night for the starting five with 11 points , eight assists and five rebounds . The Nuggets remain in fourth place in the Western Conference 's Northwest Division . They head home to face the Toronto Raptors on Monday . Ellis supplemented his stellar scoring total with nine rebounds , six assists and three steals . Jordan Hill drew the start in place of Ian Mahinmi ( back ) and responded with 20 points , seven rebounds , three assists , a steal and a notable six blocks . Paul George was right behind with 19 points , seven assists and three rebounds . Myles Turner turned in a stat - sheet - stuffing effort with eight points , nine rebounds , three assists and four blocks , as he continues to quickly develop into a force in the Pacers frontcourt . Indiana remains in third place in the Eastern Conference 's Central Division . They 're home again for a date with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night .


The Cleveland Cavaliers ( 35 - 12 ) earned a road win over the division - rival Indiana Pacers ( 26 - 22 ) Monday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse , 111 - 106 , in overtime . Cleveland led by as many as 14 points in the first quarter and led for almost the entire first half , but a sluggish third quarter allowed the Pacers back into the game , as Indiana won the period 30 - 15 and carried a four - point lead into the fourth quarter . The Cavaliers ' big three took over late to earn the overtime period and the victory , as LeBron James , Kyrie Irving , and Kevin Love combined to score the final five points of regulation and all 15 points Cleveland put on the board in overtime . Irving finished with a game - high 25 points ( 10 - 20 FG ) and seven assists , and James made up for a poor shooting night ( 9 - 22 FG , 0 - 5 3PT ) by filling up the box score with 24 points , 12 rebounds , six assists , two steals and a block . Love and J.R. Smith each added 19 and combined to hit six of Cleveland 's seven three - point baskets . The Cavaliers ' offensive success mainly came inside , however - - they shot just 32 percent from three but made 56 percent of their two - point attempts . George Hill knocked down four of his eight three - point attempts and led the Pacers with 23 points . Myles Turner posted a double - double with 14 points and 10 rebounds , and Jordan Hill had an efficient night from the center position with 17 points ( 8 - 13 FG ) , six rebounds and four assists against just two turnovers . The Pacers pulled down 17 offensive rebounds but just could n't find the basket all night , as they shot just 43 percent from the floor and 30 percent from three . The Cavaliers will remain on the road for a game Wednesday in Charlotte . The Pacers will start a road trip Wednesday in Brooklyn against the Nets .


The Indiana Pacers ( 27 - 24 ) defeated the Detroit Pistons ( 27 - 25 ) 112 - 104 on Saturday . The tussle between the two Eastern Conference Central Division rivals was a tightly contested one , with the Pistons making a strong push in the middle quarters to overcome an early deficit , before the Pacers eventually pulled away late . The difference in the back - and - forth affair primarily came down to shooting , with Indiana managing a stellar night from the field and beyond the arc . They were led by Paul George , who tallied 30 points and added eight rebounds , three assists and a steal . Nearly half of his scoring - - 14 points - - came from visits to the charity stripe , as he remained aggressive on offense throughout the night . Overall , the Pacers managed a 54 percent accuracy rate from the field , and drained 55 percent of their 11 three - point attempts . Five players , including three starters , posted double - digit point totals , and all but one , C.J . Miles , managed to shoot 50 percent or better . Detroit was led by a 26 - point effort from Reggie Jackson against George Hill 's stingy defense , and he also added three rebounds and two assists . Reserve forward Anthony Tolliver was actually the second - highest Pistons scorer , pacing the bench with 17 points , four rebounds , an assist and three steals . Marcus Morris turned in a 16 - point , two - rebound , four - assist effort that also included a steal . Stanley Johnson was productive once again in his second game starting at two - guard in Kentavious Caldwell Pope 's stead , putting up a 14 - point , 10 - rebound double - double , and also dishing out three assists and recording a steal . Andre Drummond managed another one of his trademark double - doubles , amassing 10 points and bringing in 13 boards . He also pitched in with an assist , a steal and a pair of blocks . With the loss , the Pistons drop to fourth place in the Eastern Conference 's Central Division . They head home to face the Toronto Raptors on Monday night . Hill seconded George 's team - leading effort with 17 points , four rebounds and two assists . Myles Turner continued his recent success as the starting power forward by totaling 16 points , four rebounds , three assists and a block . Jordan Hill headed back to the bench with starting center Ian Mahinmi 's return from his back injury , but paced the reserves with 12 points , eight rebounds , three assists and four steals . Miles recorded 10 points of his own off the bench , along with two rebounds and two assists . With the victory , the Pacers vaulted over the Pistons into third place in the Eastern Conference 's Central Division . They 're at home again on Monday to face off with the Los Angeles Lakers .


The Indiana Pacers ( 28 - 24 ) defeated the Los Angeles Lakers ( 11 - 43 ) 89 - 87 on Monday . A feisty Lakers squad kept the pressure on the Pacers for the majority of the contest , but Paul George and Indiana 's efficiency down low helped to seal the hard - fought victory . George scored seven of his team - leading 21 points in the last 1:10 of the game , accounting for all but two of Indiana 's final nine points . The home team was also a force on the glass and around the basket throughout all four quarters against one of the more vulnerable frontcourts in the league that was also playing without starting center Roy Hibbert . They hauled in 53 rebounds , while also doubling up Los Angeles in the paint , 44 - 22 . Conversely , neither team was able to muster anything of note from the perimeter , with the Lakers and Pacers posting respective 23 and 15 percent tallies from behind the arc . The Lakers were spearheaded by Kobe Bryant 's 19 points , which he supplemented with five rebounds . As has been the case for a good portion of the season , Bryant 's poor accuracy necessitated a voluminous amount of shot attempts , 25 in this particular contest , to allow him to hit his scoring total . Julius Randle was right behind him with a momentous 15 - point , 19 - rebound double - double which he supplemented with three assists . Lou Williams tallied 13 points , three rebounds , an assist and a pair of steals . Jordan Clarkson contributed 10 points , three rebounds , two assists and a pair of steals as the fourth starter with double - digit scoring . 2015 first - rounder D'Angelo Russell outperformed Clarkson off the bench , pacing the reserves with a stat - sheet - stuffing performance consisting of 16 points , five rebounds , five assists , four steals and a block . The Lakers remain in last place in the Western Conference 's Pacific Division . They now head to Cleveland to face off against the Cavaliers on Wednesday . George added nine rebounds , two assists , a steal and two blocks to his team - leading point total . George Hill was next in line with 15 points , six assists , a rebound and three steals . Myles Turner waged an entertaining one - on - one battle down low with Randle , recording his own double - double with 14 points , 13 rebounds and an assist . Ian Mahinmi pitched in with 11 points , five rebounds , an assist and a block , while Jordan Hill had a near double - double against his former squad , supplying nine points , nine rebounds , an assist and a block . With the victory , the Pacers moved into second place in the Eastern Conference 's Central Division . They remain home to face the Hornets on Wednesday .


The Charlotte Hornets ( 27 - 26 ) took home their fifth win in six games on Wednesday as they rolled right over the Indiana Pacers ( 28 - 25 ) for a 117 - 95 victory . After an enormous slide to start 2016 , the Hornets have quickly picked up the pace . Winners of five of their last six , the team now sits just half a game out of the Eastern Conference playoffs . Wednesday 's win helped Charlotte assert its dominance , as the victory over playoff contender Indiana was emphatic . Point guard and team leader Kemba Walker dropped in a game - high 25 points along with seven rebounds and three assists . However , it was a well - rounded approach that enabled the blowout for Charlotte . Six players scored in double - digits , and the bench 's pair of Jeremies ( Lamb and Lin ) went off for 16 and 14 respectively . Overall , Charlotte managed to score the ball at a highly efficient 52 percent from the field , while Indiana hit just 44 percent of its shots . While superstar Paul George had a typically stellar outing ( 22 points , eight rebounds , six assists ) , the rest of the Pacers were relatively unable to get it going . Rookie Myles Turner , who has turned heads with his recent play , scored just 10 points and pulled down only five rebounds . Monta Ellis also disappointed , posting just 10 points , four assists , and one rebound on the night . As a team , Indiana was simply unable to defend Charlotte on the perimeter , getting torched for over 50 percent shooting and 12 three - pointers . Both teams will now enjoy rest and time to regroup as the NBA heads into the All-Star break .


The Indiana Pacers ( 31 - 26 ) defeated the New York Knicks ( 24 - 35 ) 108 - 105 on Wednesday . A nip - and - tuck battle came down to the last shot , with Carmelo Anthony missing a 24 - foot three - point jumper at the buzzer that would have sent the game to overtime . At the 1:19 mark of the fourth quarter , it was looking increasing improbable that the Knicks would even have a chance to tie , as Paul George had helped the Pacers open up a 107 - 101 lead with a 17 - foot jumper . However , after New York got as close as 107 - 105 , Kristaps Porzingis missed a 27 - foot three - point jumper with three seconds remaining , and Myles Turner was able to haul in the all - important defensive rebound . Turner 's succesful conversion of one of two free - throw attempts resulting from an immediate foul by Langston Galloway stretched the lead to three , setting up Anthony 's last - gasp shot from beyond the arc . The missed three notwithstanding , the Knicks enjoyed a remarkable night from long range , shooting 50 percent . Porzingis led the way for New York with 22 points , two rebounds , an assist , two steals and a block . Jose Calderon was next with 20 points , his second highest total of the season , which he supplemented with four rebounds , four assists and a steal . Anthony contributed 14 points , seven rebounds , three assists and a steal . The bench was led by two notable performances . Kyle O'Quinn paced the reserves with 19 points , six boards and a block in a highly efficient 16 minutes , while Galloway supplied 17 points , six rebounds and four assists . New York remains in third place in the Eastern Conference 's Atlantic Division , and six and a half games behind the eighth - seeded Charlotte Hornets . They 're home against the Orlando Magic on Friday . Indiana was spearheaded by George , who furnished 27 points , seven rebounds , six assists and a steal . He came out of intermission on a mission , as all but two of his points came in the second half . Turner finished with 24 points , six boards and a steal . George Hill registered 10 points , three rebounds , an assist and a pair of thefts . Joseph Young led the reserves with eight points , three assists and a pair of rebounds . Indiana is currently in second place in the Eastern Conference 's Central Division , and is also the fifth seed in the conference . They remain home to face the Charlotte Hornets on Friday .


The Charlotte Hornets ( 30 - 27 ) defeated the Indiana Pacers ( 31 - 27 ) 96 - 95 on Friday . The entertaining back - and - forth affair featured solid ball security from both clubs , as well as stellar offensive performances on each side . Paul George led the Pacers ' effort with 32 points , while Marvin Williams continued his outstanding campaign with a 26 - point effort for Charlotte . The highly competitive matchup between the two evenly - matched teams unsurprisingly came down to the final seconds , with Kemba Walker erasing Indiana 's fourth - quarter comeback with a driving layup with just two seconds remaining . The Pacers ' last gasp effort following the subsequent inbounds pass fell short , as Paul George missed an 18 - foot jumper at the buzzer . Williams added 13 rebounds , an assist , a steal and two blocks to his team - leading scoring tally . The remarkable performance notably represented the veteran 's first game with more than 20 points and 10 boards since April 2012 . Walker was right on his heels with his own double - double , consisting of 22 points , 10 assists , three rebounds and a steal . Cody Zeller amassed 14 points , five rebounds and a block . Al Jefferson paced the reserves while coming off the bench for the fourth straight game since returning from injury , totaling nine points , three rebounds , an assist and a pair of blocks . The Hornets are currently in third place in the Eastern Conference 's Southeast Division , and hold the eighth seed in the conference as well . They travel to Atlanta for a date with the Hawks on Sunday afternoon . George nailed a 40 - footer to close out the first half as part of his team - high point total , and also supplied six rebounds , four assists , three steals and a block . Rookie Myles Turner had a difficult time defensively against Williams , but did turn in a solid 15 points and four boards . Monta Ellis was next in line with 14 points , six rebounds and a pair of assists , and George Hill followed him with 10 points , seven assists , six rebounds and a pair of steals . Jordan Hill led the reserves with a modest six points , five rebounds and an assist . Indiana is in third place in the Eastern Conference 's Central Division at the moment , two percentage points behind the second - place Bulls , who are currently in action against the Atlanta Hawks . They hold the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference as well , and are home again Sunday versus the Portland Trail Blazers .


The Portland Trail Blazers ( 32 - 28 ) defeated the Indiana Pacers ( 31 - 28 ) 111 - 102 on Sunday . Not many teams have been as hot as the Blazers and they showed just why on Sunday . The key was a hot start for Portland , as they scored 39 points in the first quarter to take a 12 - point lead . The Trail Blazers were unconscious from long distance , as they went 14 - for - 24 from three - point range . The Trail Blazers continue to move up the standings in the Western Conference and they continue to ride Damian Lillard to the promise land . Lillard put together another 30 - point game , as he tallied 33 points and five rebounds in the win . The bench played well too , with Gerald Henderson and Meyers Leonard combining for 36 points . On deck for Portland is the New York Knicks on Tuesday , Indiana came into this game as a six - point favorite and could n't make enough stops to pull out a much needed win . Everyone struggled shooting , with Paul George , Myles Turner , Monta Ellis and George Hill combining to shoot 18 - for - 54 from the field . No one scored more than 18 points either , with Ellis leading the team . Up next for the Blazers is a tough matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday .


The Indiana Pacers ( 34 - 30 ) held off the San Antonio Spurs ( 53 - 10 ) for the victory Monday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse , 99 - 91 . The Spurs jumped out to a 40 lead , but the Pacers responded with a 14 - 4 run and led for the entirety of the game 's final 45 minutes . The Spurs trailed by 11 heading into the fourth quarter and managed to make it close , as a LaMarcus Aldridge inside bucket with 1:55 to go pulled the Spurs within three at 87 - 90 . But Indiana shot 5 - 5 from the line and 2 - 3 from the floor down the stretch and managed to close the game . Monta Ellis led all scorers with 26 points as part of an extremely efficient offensive night , as he shot 8 - 13 from the floor , 2 - 4 from three and a perfect 8 - 8 from the free throw line . Paul George added 23 points ( 7 - 20 FG , 2 - 5 3PT , 7 - 7 FT ) and Rodney Stuckey added 12 ( 3 - 7 FG , 1 - 1 3PT , 5 - 5 FT ) in just 19 minutes . Indiana shot a brutal 40 percent on two - point shots but made up for it with a 7 - 16 ( 44 percent ) performance from downtown and a brilliant 28 - 30 ( 93 percent ) shooting night at the free throw line . LaMarcus Aldridge managed a double - double with 23 points ( 9 - 20 FG , 5 - 5 FT ) and 12 rebounds and Kawhi Leonard tied him for the team lead with 23 points of his own ( 9 - 23 FG , 1 - 7 3PT , 4 - 6 FT ) . Patty Mills was the only other player in double figures with 17 points ( 6 - 13 FG , 3 - 10 3PT ) . But the Spurs could n't find their shot as a team , as David West ( 2 - 3 FG ) was the only Spur to shoot 50 percent or better and te team finished at just 35 percent from the floor and a horrific 4 - 28 ( 14 percent ) from three . The Spurs continue their road trip Tuesday against the Timberwolves . The Pacers have four days off before they head on the road for a Saturday matchup against the Mavericks .


The Indiana Pacers ( 36 - 31 ) defeated the Boston Celtics ( 39 - 28 ) 103 - 98 on Tuesday . An exciting back - and - forth battle featured a strong fourth quarter from the home team that led them to victory . The Pacers managed a game - high 32 points in the final period , including a 15 - 4 run that provided enough of a cushion to hold off Boston when it counted most . Indiana utilized a strong shooting night to key the victory , as they posted 46 and 46 percent success rates from the field and three - point range , respectively . Conversely , they held the Celtics to 38 percent and 25 percent figures in those categories , while also forcing 13 turnovers . Boston was led by Isaiah Thomas ' 21 points , which he supplemented with eight assists , six rebounds , two steals and a block . However , he struggled from three - point range , going 3 - for - 11 from beyond the arc . Jared Sullinger followed with a 15 - point , 11 - rebound double - double that also included three assists and two steals . Marcus Smart drew the start for the ailing Jae Crowder ( ankle ) , and tallied 12 points , four rebounds , two assists , a steal and a block . Avery Bradley contributed 10 points , three rebounds , two assists and a steal . Jonas Jerebko paced the Boston bench with 17 points , three rebounds and a pair of assists . The Celtics remain in second place in the Eastern Conference 's Atlantic Division , and hold the third seed in the conference as well . They 're home versus the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night . Indiana was led by Paul George , who supplied 25 points , seven rebounds , four assists , four steals and a block . Monta Ellis was next with 16 points , seven rebounds , six assists and a pair of steals . Ian Mahinmi followed with 13 points , six boards and an assist , while George Hill , nursing a sore toe , was able to pitch in with 10 points , five rebounds , three assists and a block . Jordan Hill led the reserves with 15 points , three rebounds and a block . The Pacers remain in second place in the Eastern Conference 's Central Division , and are currently slotted in the seventh seed in the conference as well . They take on the Toronto Raptors at home on Thursday night .


The Toronto Raptors ( 46 - 21 ) took down the Indiana Pacers ( 36 - 32 ) in overtime on Thursday , winning 101 - 94 . Center Bismack Biyombo recorded a career - high and franchise - record 25 rebounds to lead the team to victory . Needless to say , Toronto was merciless on the glass , outrebounding Indiana 57 - 48 . While Biyombo was the game 's biggest story , shattering his personal rebounding record while also scoring 16 points on just six field goal attempts and recording a pair of blocks , All-Star Kyle Lowry also had a big night . Lowry scored 28 points and neared a triple - double , also recording eight rebounds and eight assists . Fellow All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan matched Lowry 's scoring while getting to the free - throw line 12 times . All in all it was a big night for the Raptors , who were able to walk away victorious despite an abysmal 36 percent shooting night . The team has surpassed all expectations , rivaling the Cleveland Cavaliers for the top of the Eastern Conference headed down the stretch . After Thursday 's win , Toronto sits just two games out of the number one spot . The Pacers , meanwhile , had an equally horrific shooting night , going just 39 percent from the field . Star Paul George led the way with 18 points and nine rebounds , but no one Pacer took over the game in the way Biyombo and the Raptors backcourt were able to . Guard Monta Ellis came up with four big steals and dished out seven assists , but shot just 3 - for - 11 on the night . The loss puts Indiana more firmly in the seventh slot in the Eastern Conference , and Thursday 's matchup looks as though it may be a playoff preview if seeding remains constant for the rest of the season . Toronto will host the ailing Boston Celtics on Friday , while Indiana will see the powerhouse Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday .


The Oklahoma City Thunder ( 48 - 22 ) narrowly edged out the host Indiana Pacers ( 36 - 33 ) on Saturday 115 - 111 behind point guard Russell Westbrook 's league - leading 14th triple - double . Westbrook has now set the highest mark for triple - doubles in a season since Magic Johnson 's 17 in 1988 - 89 . Despite contributing just 14 points , well below his season average , Westrbook dished out 14 assists and pulled down 11 rebounds . He leads all guards in rebounding on the season with an average of 8 per game . The triple - double was n't the only story for OKC , a team that has finally gotten its mojo back following a rocky star after the All-Star break . Former MVP Kevin Durant lit up the Indiana defense for 33 points , while still pulling a game - high 13 rebounds and dishing out eight assists . Sixth man Enes Kanter also made his presence knowing , going for 15 points and 10 rebounds in just 24 minutes of play . The Thunder recently became the NBA 's third team to clinch playoff berth , and will now fight to maintain the third seed in the West over the powerhouse Los Angeles Clippers . With four wins in a row under their belt , the Thunder will look to keep up solid play as the NBA season winds down . Indiana , meanwhile , is jockying for position at the bottom of the Eastern Conference playoff picture . The Pacers currently hold the seventh spot in the East . Superstar Paul George was the story for Indiana , as he delivered a whopping 45 points on a team - high 29 shot attempts from the field . Indiana 's offense was heavily reliant on George , as the All-Star forward shouldered the heavy load for the struggling team . Point guard George Hill also had a noteworthy 20 points and nine assists . OKC will host the Houston Rockets on Tuesday , while Indiana will take on the hapless Philadelphia 76ers on Monday .


The Indiana Pacers ( 37 - 33 ) made easy work of the Philadelphia 76ers ( 9 - 62 ) Monday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse , 91 - 75 . The Philadelphia offense was anemic all night , and after a pair of 18 - point quarters from the 76ers the Pacers entered the half with a robust 47 - 36 lead . The Pacers offense was hardly electric itself - - Indiana asissted on just 18 made baskets and turned the ball over 12 times - - but the Pacers sank 10 three - pointers , enough to bury Philadelphia . Indiana presented a balanced attack as all five starters finished in double figures . Paul George scored a game - high 15 points on a poor shooting night ( 4 - 16 FG , 1 - 5 3PT , 6 - 6 FT ) but added six rebounds , three assists and two steals . Ian Mahinmi scored an efficient 12 points ( 6 - 8 FG ) and added 10 rebbounds and Monta Ellis scored 13 points ( 5 - 12 FG , 3 - 7 3PT ) and dished a game - high five assists . Hollis Thompson and Isaiah Canaan led the 76ers with 15 points apiece . Jerami Grant was the only other Philadelphia player to get into double digits as he poured in 14 points ( 6 - 12 FG , 2 - 4 FT ) . Ish Smith had a poor shooting night as he shot 2 - 15 from the floor , although he did grab a team - high nine rebounds and dish a team - high four assists . Philadelphia shot just 39 percent from the floor and had as many turnovers as assists with 15 each . The 76ers continue their road trip Wednesday against Denver . The Pacers host the Pelicans on Thursday .


The Indiana Pacers ( 38 - 33 ) defeated the visiting New Orleans Pelicans ( 26 - 45 ) 92 - 84 , Thursday evening at Bankers Life Fieldhouse . This game epitomized the Pelicans injury woes this season , as Anthony Davis , Tyreke Evans , Jrue Holiday , Eric Gordon , Ryan Anderson and Norris Cole were all sidelined . Nonetheless , New Orleans brought some fight to Indiana as the game started off close , until Indiana created some separation midway through the second quarter to get up by ten before half . The Pacers maintained that more - or - less 10 - point cushion the rest of the way , earning a much needed win considering their insecure status at seventh in the East ; with Chicago and Detroit hot on their tail . Myles Turner stepped up to lead the Pacers with a huge performance , including 24 points ( 11 - 17 FG , 2 - 2 FT ) , 16 rebounds and three blocked shots , in 27 minutes . Paul George chipped in 15 points , four rebounds , two assists , one steal and one block before he left the game after 19 minutes of play , with a lower leg contusion . The only other Pacer to score in double figures was C.J . Miles , who added 19 points , in 26 minutes off the bench . The Pacers shot 46 percent from the field , while they held the Pelicans to only 41 percent . Alexis Ajinca was the high - point man on New Orleans ' depleted roster , with 22 points , along with nine rebounds . Alonzo Gee chipped in 17 points , while Tim Frazier came up big off the bench , with 18 points , five rebounds and five assists , in 29 minutes . The Pelicans are nearly eliminated from the playoff race , with their second loss in a row . Next , New Orleans host the Toronto Raptors on Saturday . The Pacers will look for their third win in a row as they visit Brooklyn Saturday .