01-20-2020, 03:15 AM
INDIANAPOLIS -- Even though they shot well in the first half, the Indiana Pacers knew that wasnt what would win them the game. Turning up their defence in the third quarter was what it took to pull away from the Brooklyn Nets. Paul George scored 24 points and Lance Stephenson added 23 to lead the Pacers to a 105-91 victory over on Saturday night. George Hill finished with 21 points for the Pacers, who put five players in double figures and pulled away with a third-quarter burst. "This team has a unique way of figuring a team out as the game goes on," coach Frank Vogel said. "We only forced four turnovers in the first half, so we did feel they were a little too comfortable on the defensive end." Roy Hibbert scored 11 and David West 10 for Indiana, which leads the Eastern Conference at 23-6. Stephenson also had nine rebounds and seven assists. "We felt like weve got to be aggressive, and come out with more energy," George said. "We were allowing guys to beat us on 1-on-1 plays. If we are going to get beat, its going to have to be by contested shots and the ball being swung." Paul Pierce scored 18 points, Mirza Teletovic 17, Deron Williams 14 and Alan Anderson 10 for the Nets, who fell to 10-20. "They took control of the third quarter with our turnovers, and those turnovers converting into layups," Nets coach Jason Kidd said. "George was knocking down jump shots, 3s. He had a four-point play. "But those guys, we didnt make them uncomfortable on the perimeter." Indiana, leading by three points at the start of the third quarter, went on an 11-3 run as the Nets turned the ball over on four straight possessions. That pushed the Pacers lead to 72-61 with 8:07 to go in the period, and they maintained their edge throughout. "We had to let the game come to us in the third quarter and play aggressive defence," Stephenson said. George hit a 16-foot, pull-up jumper to give the Pacers their biggest lead, 105-89, with 2:15 to play. The Pacers shot 53.5 per cent in beating the Nets for the third time this season. They outscored the Nets 14-2 in the paint in the decisive third quarter and 20-6 in the second half. Vogel credited Hill with much of his teams success, saying, "I thought George Hill was our best player tonight. He played exceptional defence on Deron Williams, and every time we needed a big basket or timely play, he made it." The Nets continue their difficult three-game road trip with games in San Antonio and Oklahoma City. The first half was close throughout, with eight lead changes and five ties. Indiana shot 54 per cent before halftime and the Nets made 50 per cent. NOTES: With three 3-pointers, George moved past Austin Croshere into seventh place in franchise history and sixth in NBA history with a total of 378 in his career. . The Nets have been outscored 86-60 in the third quarter of their three games with the Pacers this season. . 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Kelly, who plays No. 8 at the back of the scrum, is captain of the Canadian womens team.CALGARY - Calgary rookie Johnny Gaudreau scored a highlight-reel goal that gave everyone plenty to talk about.Gaudreaus first goal and point of the pre-season stood up as the game winner as the Flames beat the Colorado Avalanche 2-0 on Tuesday.The spark from Gaudreau that the game desperately needed came at 9:05 of the second period. Bursting into the Colorado end one-on-one against defenceman Nate Guenin, the 2014 Hobey Baker Award winner went outside in, then inside out before wristing a perfect shot into the top corner on Reto Berra.Theres nothing better for a goal scorer than to score a goal. Thats their fuel. Thats how they gauge their game, said Flames coach Bob Hartley. That was worth the price of admission. I dont know if you guys got excited but on the bench, guys reacted like fans.Guenin, a 31-year-old veteran, admitted it was a nice play.I had pinched in so I was coming back into the play. When I went to turn, he took it inside and then he went outside really quick, said Guenin. It was two really quick moves and then he couldnt have put that puck in a better spot.The American-born Guenin, who played at Ohio State, says he hadnt seen Gaudreau play before but knew all about him from following college hockey and all the hype around him last season when Gaudreau had 36 goals and 80 points in 40 games with Boston College.Guenin said he could tell the talented left-winger looked more comfortable on the ice after scoring his goal.After that, you could tell he started buzzing a little more, Guenin said.Gaudreau agreed that getting that first goal after being held off the scoresheet his first three pre-season games helped his confidence.Thankfully, I finally got it out of the way and I can just feel a little bit more comfortable out there and just make plays and not worry about getting that first one, said Gaudreau, who stands only five-foot-nine, 160 pounds.Gaudreaus bid to make the Flames season-opening roster is one of the most interesting training camp stories in Calgary. Depending on the injury situation, there are only one or two openings at forward and the speedy andd talented left-winger is competing against several players including Michael Ferland and Sven Baertschi.dddddddddddd feel more comfortable every single day, said Gaudreau, who played on a line with Curtis Glencross and Joe Colborne,. Playing with some of the guys that Ive had the chance to play with only makes me a better hockey player and gives me a whole bunch of opportunities to try and make this team.Jonas Hiller was perfect in net for the Flames, stopping all 28 shots he faced.I felt pretty good, thought I saw the puck pretty well. Was able to make some key saves and its definitely a confidence booster for the regular season, which is just around the corner, said Hiller, who as a free agent signed a two-year $9-million contract in the summer.Hiller is battling with Karri Ramo for the starting job after spending the last seven seasons with the Anaheim Ducks. In three pre-season appearances, Hiller is 2-1-0 with a 0.86 goals-against average and a .958 save percentage.Former Flame Berra went the distance for Colorado. The back-up to Semyon Varlamov finished with 22 stops.Lance Bouma, into an empty net, also scored for Calgary (4-3-0).While Colorado (0-5-1) remains winless in the pre-season, one of two teams without a victory, coach Patrick Roy was pleased with his teams effort given they were without key players like Matt Duchene, Nathan MacKinnon, former-Flame Jarome Iginla and Gabriel Landeskog.Loved our game. I thought we competed hard. We played really well. It was a very good game. We were missing a lot of guys but I was very pleased with the effort, Roy said.Notes: Notable on the Flames injury front. Mikael Backlund (abdominal strain) is skating but has not yet returned to full practice. Sam Bennett is said to be nursing a minor injury but he practised Tuesday and is expected to play Thursday night... Flames final two pre-season games will be a home-and-home with the Winnipeg Jets - Thursday in Calgary and Saturday in Winnipeg... The Avs also will wrap up their pre-season schedule with a home-and-home on the same nights against the Los Angeles Kings. ' ' '