Pacers 103, Hornets 102
C.J. Watson scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half and George Hill sank the game-winner with 4.9 seconds left as Indiana won a third straight game for the first time since last March.
David West, Rodney Stuckey and Luis Scola added 15 points apiece for the Pacers, who rallied from a 21-point deficit to win for the fifth time in seven games and get back in the hunt for a playoff spot. Watson drained a season-high five shots from the arc in eight attempts, including one with 57.6 seconds left that pulled Indiana within 99-98.
Al Jefferson had 30 points and 13 rebounds for the Hornets, who squandered a halftime lead for the second straight night. Brian Roberts added 19 points for a Charlotte team that had won 12 of its previous 15 games prior to Saturday's 33-point second half in an 89-81 loss to Philadelphia.
After Marvin Williams drained a straightaway 3-pointer with 14.7 ticks to provide Charlotte a 102-101 lead, Hill drove the right lane, went under the basket and converted a short baseline jumper on the left side of the court. Roberts took a running two-hander from midcourt at the buzzer that cascaded off the backboard and rim.
Stuckey, Watson and Scola combined for 30 points during a 34-12 run the provided Indiana an 89-88 lead with 7:38 to play. Charlotte led by 15 in the first quarter and 56-39 at the break, and Jefferson scored on a three-point play and layup to kickstart a 14-2 run that provided Charlotte a 76-55 lead with five minutes left in the third.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Hornets had held 16 of their last 17 opponents under 100 points and four straight under 90. … The Hornets shot 13-of-20 in the first quarter with one turnover to take a 32-20 lead. … Pacers C Roy Hibbert, who had seven points and seven rebounds, was totally outplayed by Jefferson.