Post-Game Grades: Pacers Blow Out the Magic

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The Pacers may have put together their first great game of the season on both ends of the floor. On the one side, they shot 51.1% on their way to only eclipsing the 100-point mark for only the second time this season. On the other end, they held Orlando to 34 second-half points and forced 19 turnovers during the game. We’ll get to each player below, but it’s hard to point out anyone who didn’t play well. Danny Granger and George Hill were the standouts, which must be nice for Pacers fans to see after their struggles (Danny’s all year and George’s of late).

For Orlando, Dwight Howard was an absolute monster; it seemed like there were 12 dunks among his 10 made baskets. Chris Duhon unexpectedly had an unexpectedly large impact on the game and torced the Pacers in the second quarter. But other than that? Nobody was a problem as Indiana took complete control in the third quarter to turn this one into a 106-85 laugher.

Here is how each guy played individually tonight.

Agree? Disagree?

Express your thoughts below in the comments or yell at me (@8pts9secs) or Tim (@TimDonahue8p9s) on Twitter.

David West – 34 MIN | 8-18 FG | 7 REB | 1 AST | 16 PTS
A second-half beast, spurring on the blowout by hitting 7 of his 12 second-half shots. Making a lot of the shots he has missed all year. Very encouraging.
Danny Granger – 36 MIN | 10-20 FG | 3 AST | 3 STL | 1 BLK | 24 PTS
Best game of the year. The scoring, sure. But the measured attacking in the post, the passing out of the post, the swinging when he should swing, the monster block, a few steals.
Roy Hibbert, C 22 MIN | 3-8 FG | 1-1 FT | 6 REB | 0 AST | 7 PTS
Big fella didn’t do much statistically but made his presence felt and made Dwight work for his — even if “his” was dunking in Roy’s grill.
Darren Collison – 34 MIN | 5-10 FG | 1 REB | 10 AST | 4 TO | 11 PTS
The difference between the 5-for-10 he had tonight and the 3-for-10 he had on Friday in Boston were Grand Canyon-sized. Just a wonderfully managed offense from the floor general tonight. Yes, we may be able to start calling him that.
Paul George – 20 MIN | 2-5 FG | 0-0 FT | 7 REB | 2 AST | 6 PTS
Meh.
Dahntay Jones – 15 MIN | 1-3 FG | 2-2 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 5 PTS
Not a ton to say. Dahntay being Dahntay.
Louis Amundson – 16 MIN | 4-4 FG | 5 REB | 4 TO | 8 PTS
Sick tip-in, a perfect night from the floor and smacked Hedo in the face to pick up his 5th foul in the third quarter. Can’t ask for much more from your energy guy.
A.J. Price – 3 MIN | 1-1 FG | 0 REB | 1 AST | 2 PTS
Garbage time.
George Hill – 25 MIN | 6-9 FG | 2-3 FT | 6 REB | 4 AST | 16 PTS
@MikeWellsNBA: “It’s a wrap folks. Pacers win 106-85 over the struggling Magic. Orlando gets booed off the court. Granger top scorer, but Hill was the MVP”
Tyler Hansbrough – 21 MIN | 3-6 FG | 5 REB | 2 AST | 7 PTS | +17
Another slump-busting night for Tyler to give him two nice nights in his last three outings. Perhaps whatever happened to his game when he got poked in the eye is starting to wear off. Looks to be back on track.
Jeff Pendergraph – 3 MIN | 2-3 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 4 PTS
One great move in garbage time and another hoop.
Lance Stephenson – 9 MIN | 0-1 FG | 2 REB | 0 AST | 0 PTS
Nothing to tweet home about.