Pacers 106, 76ers 98
INDIANAPOLIS -- Roy Hibbert scored a season-high 27 points to help the Indiana Pacers defeat the Philadelphia 76ers, 106-98, on Saturday night.
Hibbert, a 7-foot-2 center, also had 13 rebounds and six blocked shots, while making 13-of-16 free throws.
Forward Paul George scored 19 points, guard Lance Stephenson added 18 and forward David West had 17 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for the Pacers (12-1), who won their third straight and improved to 7-0 at home.
Indiana scored 100 or more points for the third time in five games after failing to do so in its first eight games.
Point guard Michael Carter-Williams of the 76ers scored 29 points, his best total in a start to his rookie season. He also had seven steals and six rebounds.
Guard Evan Turner had 21 points and 11 rebounds, but he made only 8- of-26 shots and committed six turnovers for the 76ers (6-9), who have lost five of six.
The game was tied late in the second quarter before the Pacers broke away with a quick flurry.
West hit a mid-range jumper, then Stephenson scored on a drive to give Indiana a 56-52 lead at halftime. The point total was the highest for the Pacers in a first half this season. Hibbert scored 13 points before the break.
Indiana opened the second half with baskets by Hibbert and West to take an eight-point lead, but unlike many teams this season, the 76ers hung around.
A dunk by Carter-Williams cut Indiana's lead to 64-60 and forced the Pacers to call timeout.
The Pacers responded with a vengeance.
Hill dunked, then guard Orlando Johnson made a 3-pointer that rolled around the rim and fell in, before West scored to give Indiana a 75-64 lead.
George hit a jumper with 4.5 seconds left in the third quarter to make it 77-66 lead at the end of the quarter. The Pacers held the 76ers to 14 points on 7-for-24 shooting from the field in the third quarter.
The 76ers opened the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run, and a turnaround jumper by guard Lorenzo Brown cut Indiana's lead to 77-74.
Carter-Williams hit a 3-pointer with 7:35 remaining to give the 76ers an 82-80 lead, but the Pacers responded with an 18-6 run to take control for a while.
Indiana led, 102-98, in the final minute when Hibbert posted up and found Stephenson down low for a basket.
On the other end, Hibbert blocked Turner's shot, West rebounded and guard George Hill made two free throws with 13.9 seconds left to put the game out of reach.
NOTES: The Pacers led, 25-22, at the end of the first quarter after holding the 76ers to 32 percent shooting. ... 76ers G Evan Turner was issued a technical foul for arguing with 2:52 left in the first quarter. ... The 76ers entered the night a half-game out of first place in the Atlantic Division, despite their losing record. ... 76ers rookie G Michael Carter-Williams entered the game ranked second in the league with 2.6 steals per game. ... Pacers F Luis Scola entered the game ranked fifth in the NBA in field goal percentage (.575). ... Both teams won on Friday night. Philadelphia beat Milwaukee and Indiana beat Boston.
