THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2013
NBA
PAGE 7
Pacers remain undefeated with victory over Memphis
ASSOCIATED PRESS
INDIANAPOLIS — Eight straight wins are not enough for the perfect Pacers.
They have far bigger plans.
they have in bigger plans.
The NBA's last unbeaten team remained undaunted Monday night, getting 23 points from Paul George and the first triple-double of Lance Stephenson's career to run past Memphis 95-79 and complete a brutal five-game in seven-day stretch with a sweep.
Indiana extended its fran- chise-best start to 8-0, becoming the seventh team to achieve the feat since 2000 and the 18th team in league history to start a season 8-0, according to STATS.
"Everything we're shooting for is attainable, but we've got a long way to go, a lot of work to do," coach Frank Vogel said. "It was probably our most complete game."
The Pacers made no secret of this season's plan — dethroning two-time defending NBA champion Miami. The best way to do that, they figured, was earning the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and so far, nobody has been able to touch them. The Pacers already have a 3½-game lead over Miami and Atlanta in the East.
indiana is showing no sign of slowing down, either.
Rather than look fatigued after back-to-back wins last Tuesday and Wednesday and two more back-to-back wins Friday and Saturday, something Vogel said he had never been part of previously, the Pacers appeared to get stronger Monday.
They again dominated the glass, outbounding Memphis 30-15 in the first half and finishing with a 45-32 advantage. They again relied
on sufficating defense, which held Memphis (3-4) to a season-low point total and nearly 20 points below its season scoring average (98.5). And again they were content to share the honors.
George scored seven points during a key 9-3 stretch to close out the third quarter. That gave Indiana a 72-55 lead.
Stephenson, who is playing the best basketball of his career, finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds, a career-high 12 assists and
"Everything we're shooting for is attainable, but we've got a long way to go, a lot of work to do."
FRANK VOGEL Indiana Pacers coach
only one turnover. Roy Hibbert added five more blocks to his league-leading total (35), George Hill finished with 13 points in his third game back from a hip injury and Luis Scola added 12 points off the bench.
Indiana could be making things even tougher for opponents soon, too. Vogel said before the game that former All-Star Danny Granger, who once led the Pacers in scoring for five straight seasons, will begin working out Tuesday and could return to practice as soon as Wednesday. Vogel did not say when Granger would return to the rotation. Granger has not played this season because of a strained left calf.
For now, though, fans seem content with the way things are going. During the final minutes, they
But the Pacers aren't content with that.
even serenaded Paupers players with chants of "un-de-feat-ed."
"We are not looking at this 8-0 start," said George, the NBA's Most Improved Player last season. "We want to enjoy it, but we must let our strengths continue to lead us to victory. Everybody helps everybody is doing their job." For Memphis, it was a rough night.
Marc Gasol, who showed his frustration at times during the second half, finished with 15 points and six rebounds. The only other Memphis players to reach double-figures were two guys with Hoosier State ties — Zach Randolph had 12 and Mike Conley added 11.
The Grizzlies shot just 41 percent from the field and were only 6 of 19 from 3-point range, and after a 15-3 run put Memphis in an 80-55 deficit just 83 seconds into the fourth quarter, the Grizzlies never had a chance.
"They're the best defensive team in this league, they really compress the paint, it was hard for any of us guards to get in there and make anything happen," Conley said. "They've got a lot of length, they've got great guards that play great 'D' and they made us take contested shots."
The Pacers jumped to a 13-8 lead in the opening minutes, scored the final six points of the first quarter to make it 23-16 and then methodically pulled away in the second. Though Memphis closed to 46-39 at halftime, the Pacers put it away with the spurt spurred by George and Stephenson that eventually made it 80-55.
Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, of Spain, looks to make a pass over Indiana Pacers forward David West in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis on Monday.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NBA
Rose injured after 16 points, Bulls pull away for late win
Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson (22) fouls Cleveland Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday in Chicago.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
I ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO — Derrick Rose had 16 points before leaving in the fourth quarter with an apparent injury, and the Chicago Bulls pulled away from the Cleveland Cavaliers for a 96-81 victory on Monday night.
Chicago opened a 13-point lead on Boozer's fadeaway jumper with 8:08 left in the third, but Cleveland slowly whittled away at the advantage. Irving made a jumper for his first field goal and Tyler Zeller had a rebound basket in his first action of the game, trimming the Bulls' lead to 64-60 entering the final
Rose grimaced after he drove down the lane for a twisting layup with 3:39 left. He remained in the game for a short time before he was pulled for Kirk Hinrich, and a trainer then attended to the 2011 NBA MVP at the end of the bench
Kyrie Irving had 16 points for Cleveland, but was 5 for 19 from the field in his first game against Rose. The Cavaliers committed 20 turnovers, leading to 29 points for the Bulls.
period.
Carlos Boozer scored 17 points and reserve Mike Dunleavy Jr. added a season-high 16 for Chicago, which went 24 for 26 at the free-throw line. Luol Deng finished with 12 points.
It was a one-point game early in the fourth before the Bulls started to take control. Dunleavy had seven points during a 9-1 run that made it 87-76 with 2:10 remaining.
Dunleavey then had a steal and a pass ahead to Deng for a fast-break dunk that extended the lead to 91-77 lead with 1:07 left.
Rose was selected No. 1 overall in the 2008 draft and won the NBA Rookie of the Year award. Irving pulled off the same feat in 2012, but the dynamic point guards had never played against each other in the pros. Rose missed all of last season following left knee surgery, and Irving also has dealt with some injuries.
Irving's 39 points in a 127-125
Bynum missed all of last season with Philadelphia due to surgery on both knees and signed with Cleveland in July. The 7-footer played 21 minutes in his longest stint on the court since joining the Cavs.
Cavaliers center Andrew Bynum had 11 points and six rebounds in his first start since April 22, 2012, for the Lakers against Oklahoma City. Anderson Varejao was in the lineup about a half-hour before the game, but it was Bynom on the floor for the tip-off.
double overtime victory against Philadelphia on Saturday night only increased the hype for his first matchup with Rose, but their initial meeting was pretty much a dud, at least as far the individual duel was concerned.
Irving was scoreless until he made two free throws with 1:36 left in the first half and missed his first six shots. Rose also had a slow start, going 3 for 9 in the first half for six points.
At least Irving took care of the ball. Cleveland committed 12 turnovers in an ugly first half, leading to 17 points for Chicago. Waiters had four of the miscues, helping the Bulls to a 45-36 lead at the break.
NOTES: Chicago won three of four games against Cleveland last season. The Bulls have won the season series against the Cavs for three straight years ... Duke plays Kansas on Tuesday night at the United Center, so Blue Devils coach Mike Krzzyzewski brought his team to the game. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau also worked with Krzzyzewski with USA Basketball. "He's a fantastic leader. Just terrific." Thibodeau said. "To achieve the way he's achieved throughout his career, that's the mark of greatness."
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