Pacers whack Nets without George
INDIANAPOLIS -- Glenn Robinson III started in place of injured Paul George and scored a career-best 20 points on Friday night, leading the Indiana Pacers to a 118-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.
The Pacers (8-9) announced during the game that leading scorer George (20.8 points per game), who has lower back soreness, also will miss Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers and the Nov. 30 game at Portland.
Rodney Stuckey came off the bench to score 18 points for Indiana, Myles Turner and Al Jefferson each had 16, Monta Ellis added 14 and Thaddeus Young contributed 11. The Pacers shot a season best 55.2 percent from the field (48 of 87).
Brook Lopez led Brooklyn (4-11) with 20 points, Sean Kilpatrick scored 16 and Trevor Booker, Yogi Ferrell and Randy Foye each had 10. The Nets have lost six in a row.
Indiana began the third quarter on a 20-7 run, building a 78-50 lead with 5:37 on the clock. Late in the third quarter, the Pacers were shooting 62.5 percent from the floor. Indiana led 92-65 through three quarters, outscoring Brooklyn 34-22 in the quarter.
The Pacers shot 57.1 percent from the field (24 of 42) during the first half on their way to a 58-43 lead through 24 minutes.
Robinson III had a 13-point first half and Turner added 10 points and five rebounds to help Indiana turn a seven-point, first-quarter deficit into a 15-point advantage at intermission. The Pacers outrebounded Brooklyn 25-17 in the first half.
Lopez had nine points and Booker added eight in the first two quarters for the Nets, who shot 43.6 percent from the field (17 of 39) before halftime.
NOTES: The Nets were without No. 2 scorer G Jeremy Lin (strained left hamstring). ... The Pacers were without G/F C.J. Miles (sore left knee) and F Kevin Seraphin (sore left knee). ... Glenn Robinson III started at SF for Indiana in place of Paul George, who has a sore lower back. ... Indiana came in having lost three consecutive home games by an average of 22.7 points. ... Brooklyn came in with a five-game losing streak, including Wednesday night's 111-92 defeat at the hands of Boston. ... Indiana is in the midst of a nine-game stretch in which eight are in Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Before facing Brooklyn, the Pacers were 2-4 in the first six at home in that stretch. ... Brooklyn came in ranked eighth in NBA free throw percentage (79.7). ... Indiana ranks second in opponents' turnovers per game (16.6). ... Brooklyn defeated Indiana 103-94 on Oct. 28 in the Barclays Center.