Pacers Punish Nuggets Thanks to 54-point 3rd Quarter

[The Lone Granger]

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Pacers made their first 20 shots of the third quarter, missing out on a perfect period when Josh McRoberts was off on a 3-pointer with 1.9 seconds left, and the Indiana Pacers beat the Denver Nuggets 144-113 on Tuesday night.

 

Mike Dunleavy scored 24 of his 31 points in the Pacers' 54-point period. Indiana, which shot 64 percent overall, led 113-76 at the end of the third quarter.

 

Darren Collison scored 29 points, Tyler Hansbrough had 20 points and nine rebounds, and Danny Granger added 19 points for the Pacers (3-3). Indiana set league season highs for points, field goals made and field-goal percentage.

 

Ty Lawson led Denver with 19 points and Arron Afflalo added 17. Carmelo Anthony scored 13 points on 5-for-15 shooting for the Nuggets (4-4).

 

Indiana shot 52 percent from the field in the first half to take a 59-49 lead at the break, but that was just the beginning.

 

Dunleavy made all five of his 3-point attempts in the quarter, including one that gave Indiana its 100th point with 2:49 left. The Pacers outscored Denver 54-27 in the period to take a 113-76 lead.

 

Indiana had 17 assists and made 8-of-9 3-pointers in the 12-minute span.

 

Pacers coach Jim O'Brien had criticized Dunleavy for missing open shots, but the guard made 9-of-13 field goals, including 6-of-10 3-pointers. Granger had shot 8 for 31 from the field past two games, but bounced back and shot 8 for 10.

 

The Pacers made 31-of-39 shots in the second half, and their largest lead was 39 points.

 

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=301109011

 

Danny Granger: 19 Points, 5 Assists

Josh McRoberts: 10 Rebounds, 5 Assists

Roy Hibbert: 17 Points, 6 Rebounds, 3 Blocks

Mike Dunleavy: 31 Points, 6-10 3PT

Darren Collison: 29 Points, 6 Assists

Tyler Hansbrough: 20 Points, 9 Rebounds

Brandon Rush: 16 Points, 7 Rebounds

 

All around great game from everybody who played. Dunleavy came up huge with those 31 points, and we spanked the Nuggets! Great game, and the fans in Conseco Fieldhouse are really starting to cheer on this Indiana Pacer team, and turn out to the games. We've already sold out once, and we came close yet again tonight. If we keep playing this kind of basketball, I could see us being contenders to make the Playoffs number one, and also maybe a threat to win a couple series' if teams take us lightly. Maybe that's just an overreaction to this dominating win, but I'm feeling really good about what Indiana is building after tonight.

 

What do you guys think about both this game, and what Indiana has this year? Do you think they will make the Playoffs? Do you think they can actually contend in the East? What are your thoughts on the 2010 Indiana Pacers?

 

Thoughts?

[Nitro]

Wow, that's got to be the greatest quarter in NBA history. 20-21, with the one miss being a last second heave? That's nuts, and the Nuggets should be epically embarassed...