Pacers 106, Pelicans 93
David West and George Hill each scored 17 points as visiting Indiana rolled over New Orleans, which was playing without injured All-Star Anthony Davis.
Hill had nine assists and West dished out seven while going 8-of-9 from the field for the Pacers, who have won four of their last five contests. Rodney Stuckey contributed 16 points off the bench and Solomon Hill chipped in with 12 for Indiana, which shot 53.3 percent from the field to beat the Pelicans for the eighth straight time.
Luke Babbitt recorded season highs of 15 points and eight rebounds for New Orleans, which has lost three in a row – the last two without Davis (shoulder). Toney Douglas had 14 points and seven assists while Alexis Ajinca added 14 points and seven boards for the Pelicans, who have dropped four straight at home.
West and Solomon Hill combined to make all eight of their shots from the field and score 19 in the first quarter as the Pacers jumped out to a 32-18 lead. Stuckey and George Hill made back-to-back 3-pointers and Roy Hibbert drained two free throws for a 23-point advantage midway through the second and Indiana settled for a 57-35 bulge at intermission.
Indiana would not let the Pelicans get on track in the third quarter while scoring 32 more points – getting eight from George Hill and six from West for an 89-60 lead going into the final period. Hibbert’s basket capped a 6-2 spurt to start the fourth for a 33-point lead before New Orleans cut its deficit with a late burst.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Hibbert finished nine points, six rebounds and two blocks. … New Orleans was also without F Ryan Anderson (elbow) and G Jrue Holiday (ankle). … Pacers C Ian Mahinmi returned after missing the last two games with an ankle injury and grabbed eight rebounds in 19 minutes.