INDIANAPOLIS -- Paul George scored a season-high 39 points, including 27 during the second half Wednesday night, and the Indiana Pacers pulled away from the Charlotte Hornets for a 98-77 victory.

George made 15 of 21 field goal attempts, including 6 of 10 from 3-point range. He left the game with 2:56 remaining.

Indiana, which has only seven remaining home games, improved to 35-33. Charlotte fell to 29-39.

Monta Ellis added 16 points for the Pacers, who shot 53.4 percent (39 of 73) and outrebounded the Hornets 39-27. Jeff Teague had 11 assists.

Frank Kaminsky led Charlotte with 20 points, Marco Belinelli added 11 and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scored 10. Kemba Walker was limited to seven points on 3-of-11 shooting. The Hornets shot only 40 percent (32 of 80)

Indiana blew the game open with a 33-16 third quarter that included a 15-0 run and 15 points from George on 6-of-9 shooting. The Pacers led 75-58 through 36 minutes, making 11 of 17 field goal attempts during the pivotal third quarter.

Indiana starters George, C.J. Miles and Teague were a collective 10 of 14 from the field in the third period. Charlotte was only 7 of 20 from the field in the third quarter and turned the ball over five times.

Through three quarters, George had 27 points, four rebounds, two assists and three steals. No other Pacer scored in double figures through 36 minutes.

The game was tied at 42 at halftime with the Pacers getting 12 points from George, nine from Ellis and seven from Glenn Robinson III. Indiana shot 48.7 percent in the opening half (19 of 39) despite making only 3 of 13 from beyond the arc.

Charlotte got seven points each from Cody Zeller and Kaminsky during first-half action but shot only 45 percent (18 of 40), including 1 of 9 from 3-point range.

Indiana outrebounded the Hornets 20-16 during the first two quarters.

The Pacers led 24-22 through 12 minutes, making 11 of 20 field goal attempts and getting eight points from George. Belinelli came off of the bench for six first-quarter points for the Hornets.

NOTES: Indiana improved to 4-11 on the second night of a back-to-back. ... The Pacers lost Tuesday night to the Knicks in New York. ... Charlotte did not have a single offensive rebound in the first three quarters. ... Hornets G Kemba Walker averaged 26 points in his team's two victories against Indiana this season in Charlotte, but he had only two points during the first half Wednesday night in Bankers Life Fieldhouse. ... Indiana played without F/C Lavoy Allen (sore left knee). ... Charlotte was without G/F Nicolas Batum (migraine), C Johnny O'Bryant (right ankle sprain), C Miles Plumlee (right calf sprain) and Ramon Sessions (left knee surgery). ... With the Pacers' victory, the teams split the four-game season series 2-2, each winning twice at home.