George, Pacers enter break with dominating win over Bobcats

Thursday, February 14, 2013
Charlotte Bobcats guard Gerald Henderson (9) defends Indiana Pacers forward Paul George in the second half on Wednesday. George finished the game with a triple-double in the Pacers' win.

INDIANAPOLIS -- After slogging through a sloppy first half, the Indiana Pacers turned up the energy to beat the Charlotte Bobcats 101-77.

All-Star forward Paul George quietly dominated the game for the Pacers, notching a triple-double with 23 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists on an effortless 8-for-17 shooting night.

"It all came in the course of trying to do whatever I could out there," George said. "I didn't know how close I was until I had 17 (points) and eight (rebounds) or so."

Tyler Hansbrough, making his first start of the season in place of injured David West (eye), scored 19 points and hauled in 10 rebounds as the Pacers finished the first half of the season with a 32-21 record.

Hansbrough said it is easier to prepare, and perform in the game, as a starter with a clear role.

"It's tough coming off the bench sometimes," Hansbrough said. "You never know what you're going to have to bring every night. Sometimes the minutes aren't there so you've just got to come in and do whatever the team needs."

The Pacers got off to a bit of a slow start, but coach Frank Vogel said once they learned to play without David West, everything fell into place.

"Tyler Hansbrough is a starting power forward in this league," Vogel said. "He proves every chance he gets what he can do."

Hansbrough was backed up by third-string power forward Jeff Pendergraph, who had 10 points and eight rebounds himself.

Both teams began the game looking ready for the All-Star break to begin. Each shot better than 50 percent in the first quarter, largely from relaxed defenders, but the pressure picked up in the second and the Pacers took a three-point lead into halftime.

The Pacers, and George, turned it up.

George had one of his worst games of the season Monday against Brooklyn, but responded with one of the best of his career on Wednesday.

"I wasn't coming in with the intention of getting a triple-double, but I knew I had to be more aggressive with this one," George said.

He picked up 10 of his 12 rebounds in the second half, added five assists in the fourth quarter, and helped the Pacers pull away.

"It was a beast of a triple-double," Vogel said. "I'm very, very proud of how he's growing and very proud to have him representing us in the All-Star game next week."

George was selected to both the All-Star game and Saturday night's three-point shooting contest.

His triple-double was the first of his career but the third for the Pacers this season. David West and Roy Hibbert each had one earlier in the year.

For Hansbrough, making his first start of the year was extra special because, as a University of North Carolina Alumni, he knew a lot of his fans would be home watching.

"Every time that I play Charlotte I know somebody I know is watching," he said. "I've got a lot of people around there, so it means a little more to me."

The Pacers are off for the next week for the NBA All-Star break. They'll return next Wednesday when they host the Knicks at 7 p.m.

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