National Basketball Association
Indiana 116, Oklahoma City 104
When: 6:00 PM ET, Sunday, April 12, 2015
Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Officials:
#14 Ed Malloy, #68 Marat Kogut, #61 Courtney Kirkland
Attendance:
18165
By The Sports Xchange
INDIANAPOLIS -- Guard C.J. Miles scored a career-high-tying 30 points, and the Indiana Pacers stayed alive in the Eastern Conference playoff chase with a 116-104 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday in Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
A 12-0, fourth-quarter run that included 3-pointers from reserve guard Rodney Stuckey and Miles and a three-point play from point guard George Hill gave Indiana a 100-88 lead with 5:19 remaining.
Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook scored a career-best 54 points but was whistled for his 16th technical foul of the season, meaning he will have to sit out Monday night's home game against Portland. His 54 are the most scored by a visiting player in Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Indiana (37-43) earned its fifth consecutive victory and moved into a tie for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East with the Nets (37-43). However, Brooklyn owns the tiebreaker with the Pacers by virtue of winning the season series, 2-1. Each team has two games remaining.
The seventh-place Boston Celtics (38-42) hold a one-game edge on both Indiana and Brooklyn.
Oklahoma City (43-37) and New Orleans (43-37) remain tied for the past Western Conference playoff berth. The Pelicans lost to the Houston Rockets on Sunday.
Guard George Hill added 19 points for Indiana, and center Roy Hibbert had 17 points and 10 rebounds. Forward David West contributed 13 points. Miles also grabbed 10 rebounds.
Guard Dion Waiters added 16 for the Thunder, and forward Enes Kanter had 13 points. Oklahoma City shot just 11-for-28 from the free-throw line.
Westbrook hit 21 of 43 shots from the floor, including five of 15 3-point attempts.
A short baseline jumper from forward Lavoy Allen with 9:19 to go gave the Pacers an 88-81 lead, prompting an Oklahoma City timeout. Five consecutive points from Westbrook sliced the Indiana advantage to 88-86 with 8:07 left. A Westbrook dunk tied it at 88.
NOTES: The Thunder were without F Perry Jones (sprained left ankle). ... The Pacers were without F Chris Copeland (left elbow and abdomen injuries suffered in an altercation outside a New York club). ... Indiana finishes the regular season with a home game Tuesday against the Washington Wizards and a road game Wednesday at Memphis. ... The average margin of victory in Indiana's winning streak is 14.8 points. Prior to the current stretch, the Pacers lost nine of 11. ... The game featured two of the NBA's best rebounding teams with the Thunder No. 1 with 47.5 per game and Pacers No. 6 at 44.7. Indiana emerged with a 52-43 edge Sunday. ... In the only other meeting this season, G Russell Westbrook had a triple-double in the Thunder's 105-92 victory on Feb. 24 in Oklahoma City.
Top Game Performances
Oklahoma City |
|
Indiana |
Russell Westbrook 54 |
Scoring |
C.J. Miles 30 |
Russell Westbrook 8 |
Assists |
George Hill 7 |
Steven Adams 10 |
Rebounds |
Roy Hibbert 10 |
Russell Westbrook 7 |
Free Throws Made |
C.J. Miles 6 |
Enes Kanter 1 |
Steals |
George Hill 1 |
Steven Adams 1 |
Blocks |
Roy Hibbert 2 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Points |
FG% |
3PM-3PA |
FTM-FTA |
Assists |
Rebounds |
Blocks |
Steals |
Turnovers |
Oklahoma City
|
104 |
43.2 |
11-28 |
11-28 |
18 |
43 |
4 |
5 |
8 |
Indiana
|
116 |
53.2 |
10-20 |
22-35 |
25 |
52 |
3 |
4 |
13 |
Upcoming Games
-
Indiana will play their next game at home against Washington. The Pacers have a W/L % of .514 after a win and .419 after a loss.
-
Oklahoma City will play their next game at home against Portland. The Thunder have a W/L % of .558 after a win and .514 after a loss.