Pacers Rally To Beat Rockets, NBA Scores

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Published on February 28 2017 6:12 am
Last Updated on February 28 2017 6:12 am

BY ESPN

When the Indiana Pacers got into a big hole early Monday night, no one panicked.

Jeff Teague scored 25 points to help the Pacers overcome a huge first-half deficit before withstanding a late rally to beat the Houston Rockets 117-108.

"We did a great job of collecting our thoughts, we went to the bench, talked and we won every quarter after the first quarter," Paul George said.

C.J. Miles made a 3-pointer with 40.8 seconds left to make it 113-108, and Teague added two free throws after that to put the game out of reach. It was just the second win in nine games for the Pacers and only their 10th road win of the season.

"I think it was the best fourth quarter we've played where we were just solid defensively getting stops and offensively executing," Pacers coach Nate McMillan said.

The Pacers trailed by 17 early before taking a halftime lead, then were up by 14 with about four minutes left. The Rockets used a 12-2 run to get within two with less than a minute remaining. Lou Williams had eight points, powered by a pair of 3-pointers in that span, including an off-balance one on which he was fouled to cap the run. He missed the ensuing free throw, and Miles followed with his 3.

"I told them: `They don't give championships up there for guys who just show up, you've got to go get it," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said. "A champion has a heart, a big heart ... and we haven't shown that lately."

Williams led the Rockets with 28 points, James Harden added 25 points with 12 assists and Nene scored 15 points.

A 3-pointer by Teague pushed Indiana ahead 103-92 midway through the fourth. Williams made two free throws after that, but the Pacers scored the next five points, with another 3 from Teague to make it 108-94 with about four minutes left.

"It's the first game I feel like we really just stuck together," Teague said. "Nobody really got down. We were just cheering each other on and competing."

The Pacers trailed by one late in the third quarter before scoring nine straight points, capped by Rodney Stuckey's 3 to take an 86-78 lead. Harden made a layup after that, but Stuckey made two free throws with a second left in the quarter to get Indiana up 88-80.

The Rockets were up by 17 after a 3-pointer by Williams with about nine minutes left in the second quarter before the Pacers took over. They outscored Houston 23-8 over the next six minutes.


Monday, February 27 Scoreboard

Toronto 92, New York 91

Golden State 119, Philadelphia 108

Cleveland 102, Milwaukee 95

Atlanta 114, Boston 98

Dallas 96, Miami 89

Indiana 117, Houston 108

Minnesota 102,  Sacramento 88


Tuesday, February 28 Schedule (All Times Central)

Golden  State at Washington, 6 p.m.

Portland at Detroit, 6:30 p.m.

Denver at Chicago, 7 p.m.

Phoenix at Memphis, 7 p.m.

Utah at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.

Charlotte at Los Angeles Lakers, 9:30 p.m.