Category: Pacers

Pacers drop first home game, 101-96 to Detroit

By CHRIS GOFF ISL Co-Editor/SportsXChange INDIANAPOLIS – Josh Smith is starting to look comfortable with the Detroit Pistons, who in turn are suddenly competing with the best teams in the NBA. Smith, a forward who signed a huge contract in the offseason to leave Atlanta, scored 30 points and point guard Brandon Jennings had 18 […]

Pacers Pregame: Granger’s return means four-man bench

By CHRIS GOFF ISL Co-Editor INDIANAPOLIS – With Danny Granger targeting a return on Friday, Pacers coach Frank Vogel revealed his plans for Granger’s reintegration. He has played in only five games since the 2011-12 season, so it should come as no surprise that Granger will begin his road back off the bench. Vogel said […]

Cody Zeller shows growing comfort in return to Indiana

By CHRIS GOFF ISL Assistant Editor INDIANAPOLIS – Back in snowy Central Indiana, the only soil he’d ever known until four months ago, and suiting up in the arena where he won three state titles in high school, Cody Zeller’s mind wandered back to schoolwork. Here it was mid-December, and his former Indiana University teammates […]

Stephenson drops 20 and 11; Pacers knock off Bobcats

By CLIFF BRUNT ISL Editor/The Sports Xchange INDIANAPOLIS — Even without Paul George’s usual offensive fireworks, the Indiana Pacers found a way to win. George, a forward who entered Friday’s game against Charlotte as the league’s No. 4 scorer with 24.7 points per game, finished with a season-low 10 on 2-for-12 shooting from the field. […]

First Thoughts: Pacers 99, Bobcats 94

By CHRIS GOFF ISL Assistant Editor First thoughts after the Indiana Pacers squeaked by the Charlotte Bobcats 99-94 on Friday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse: IN A NUTSHELL: Roy Hibbert had 18 points and 11 rebounds and Lance Stephenson produced 20 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in another fine all-around performance. Surprisingly, Indiana was […]

Pacers Pregame: Rasual Butler joins rotation

By CHRIS GOFF ISL Assistant Editor INDIANAPOLIS – With reserve shooting guard Orlando Johnson shooting 25 percent over his previous 10 games, Indiana coach Frank Vogel is pulling him out of the rotation in favor of veteran swingman Rasual Butler. Butler made the team in a mild upset after fitting in during training camp in […]

Hibbert, George lead Pacers past Heat

By CLIFF BRUNT ISL Editor/The Sports Xchange INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Pacers treated the two-time defending champion Miami Heat like just everybody else. The Pacers followed a familiar script on Tuesday night — they played a less-than-perfect first half, dominated the third quarter and played solid defense throughout — to defeat the Heat 90-84. Sure, […]

First Thoughts: Thunder 118, Pacers 94

By CHRIS GOFF ISL Assistant Editor First thoughts after the Indiana Pacers were blown out by the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-94 on Sunday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena: IN A NUTSHELL: Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook dominated and the Pacers were demolished by the Thunder in all phases of the game. Durant, the league’s scoring […]

First Thoughts: Pacers 95, Jazz 86

By CHRIS GOFF ISL Assistant Editor First thoughts after the Indiana Pacers silenced the Utah Jazz 95-86 on Wednesday night at EnergySolutions Arena: IN A NUTSHELL: Roy Hibbert and David West scored 19 of their combined 23 points in the second half, with seven in a row at one point as the Pacers pulled away for […]

First Thoughts: Trail Blazers 106, Pacers 102

By CHRIS GOFF ISL Assistant Editor First thoughts after the Indiana Pacers fell to the Portland Trail Blazers 106-102 on Monday night at the Moda Center: IN A NUTSHELL: Paul George scored a career-high 43 points on 16-of-30 shooting and made five 3-pointers in the final three minutes while trying to bring Indiana back from […]

First Thoughts: Pacers 93, Wizards 73

By CHRIS GOFF ISL Assistant Editor INDIANAPOLIS – First thoughts after the Indiana Pacers routed the Washington Wizards 93-73 on Friday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse: IN A NUTSHELL: Paul George scored 23 points and Roy Hibbert had 13 points and eight rebounds to lead the Pacers to their sixth straight win ahead of a difficult […]