Pacers beat Grizzlies for fifth-straight home win

Monday, December 31, 2012
Pacers guard D.J. Augustin drives to the hoop against Memphis' Mike Conley. (Courtesy photo)

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers beat Memphis in an afternoon game on Monday, 88-83. They were without starting point guard George Hill, who missed the game with an injury.

D.J. Augustin, removed from the playing rotation a few weeks ago for rookie point guard Ben Hasbrough, stepped into the void in Hill's absence.

A former top-ten draft pick by Charlotte, Augustin has struggled to find a rhythm since joining the Pacers (18-13) as a free agent last summer.

He entered the game averaging just 3.1 points, on 26 percent shooting, and 2.3 assists per game.

Augustin, his fifth year out of Texas, spent the last two seasons starting for the Bobcats and seemed to find his groove by moving back into that role. He made four of the Pacers' 12 three-pointers, including a dagger late that put Indiana up six with two minutes left.

He also sank four-of-four free throws down the stretch to help seal the win.

"I was out there longer so the shots were able to come to me instead of me trying to force shots in limited minutes," Augustin said. "(Starting) makes a big difference. You come out loose and ready and prepared for the game. But when you come off the bench, you've got to be ready also."

Augustin added a season-high six assists.

Paul George continued his recent success, scoring a team-high 21 points. He also held Grizzlies star forward Rudy Gay to just three-of-17 shooting.

Roy Hibbert, coming off a zero-point, one-rebound catastrophe against Atlanta on Saturday, responded against Memphis.

The Grizzlies (19-9) attacked Hibbert early with Zach Randolph posting up, but they failed to feed the post consistently.

Randolph finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds.

Hibbert finished with four big blocks, including one of Gay that would have closed the gap to three with 1:51 remaining.

Indiana hosts the Wizards for the second time this season on Wednesday at 7 p.m.



At Indiana
Grizzlies 19 22 26 16 -- 83
Pacers 19 19 22 28 -- 88

Individual scoring
Grizzlies: Randolph 7-18, 7-8, 21; Gasol 6-10, 1-1, 13; Gay 3-17, 5-8, 11; Allen 5-8, 1-2, 11; Conley 3-9, 2-2, 9; Ellington 2-4, 0-0, 6; Arthur 3-6, 0-0, 6; Speights 2-6, 1-2, 5; Bayless 0-4, 1-1, 1.
Pacers: George 7-16, 3-4, 21; Augustin 4-9, 5-6, 17; West 3-6, 7-8, 13; Stephenson 3-7, 2-2, 10; Hibbert 3-11, 3-4, 9; T Hansbrough 3-6, 0-0, 6; B Hansbrough 2-5, 0-0, 6; Green 2-5, 0-0, 4; Mahinmi 1-5, 0-0, 2; Young 0-0, 0-0, 0.

Team scoring (three-pointers)
Grizzlies 31-82 (3-11), 18-24, 83; Pacers 28-70 (12-25), 20-24, 88.

Rebounds (offensive)
Grizzlies 44 (18); Pacers 38 (11).

Turnovers
Grizzlies 16; Pacers 18.

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