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GAME FLOW
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) The way Jalen Rose is playing the point
guard position has caught the eye of Hall of Fame guard Isiah
Thomas.
"Over the last two games, Jalen has been as good as anybody,"
Thomas said after Indiana continued its mastery of Vancouver, 95-75
Friday night.
Rose played only 28 minutes as Thomas got a chance to use his
reserves with Indiana holding a double digit lead for the final 30
minutes.
Reserve Austin Croshere had 17 points to lead five Indiana players in double figures as the Pacers kept their NBA record perfect against the Grizzlies.
It was the eighth consecutive loss for Vancouver, which ends an
eight-game road trip Sunday at Toronto.
Rose had 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists with just one
turnover in 28 minutes.
"When he plays like that, he gets everyone involved," Thomas
said. "All the credit goes to Jalen. He understands what time of
year it is. He's taken his game to another level in terms of
getting everyone involved.
"He sees things on the floor and he makes the game easy for
everyone when he plays like this."
Indiana, which opened a one-game edge over idle Boston in their
battle for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, built a
20-point lead in the final minute of the first half. Vancouver
never drew closer than the 56-41 halftime score and fell behind by
as many as 35 points in the final period.
"It's been a brutal road trip. It's going to wear you down," Vancouver coach Sidney Lowe said.
As Vancouver travels, the players are thinking about where the
franchise may be headed. The Grizzlies' owners have a Monday
deadline to make their decision on a new location for the team.
"We are starting to weaken and other things are on our minds,"
Lowe said. "It's hard to stay focused for 48 minutes with everything going on. ... Whatever is going to happen on Monday, it will be a relief whatever the decision may be. Then we can get focused back on basketball."
Sam Perkins hit three free throws and a 3-pointer to ignite an
11-1 run as Indiana pulled away to start the second half. The
Grizzlies missed eight straight from the field and had two
turnovers before Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who led Vancouver with 21,
hit a layup with 7:30 remaining in the period. Indiana built its
lead to 34 twice in the quarter when it gave four of its starters
the rest of the night off.
Reggie Miller scored 13, Al Harrington 12 and Travis Best 11 and
a total of 10 Pacers scored.
Michael Dickerson was the only other Vancouver player in double figures with 18 points.
The Pacers held Vancouver to 30 percent shooting from the field
(24-of-79).
Indiana never trailed and the game's only tie was at 2-2 as the
Grizzlies lost to Indiana for the 11th consecutive time.
"I don't think there was so much what they did, but what we
didn't do," Abdur-Rahim said. "We just hurt ourselves. We made a
lot of turnovers (18) and we just didn't make plays, like blocking
out."
Game notes Vancouver's Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf did not dress for a third
consecutive game due to back spasms. ... Indiana is the only team
the Grizzlies have never defeated in their six-year history. ...
Vancouver hasn't won since posting back-to-back victories over
Portland March 6 and March 9. ... Croshere played only 27 minutes
before fouling out and just missed having a double-double with nine
rebounds. ... Rookie Stromile Swift matched his season-high of 11
rebounds and had four blocks for Vancouver. ... Indiana's winning
margin was its second largest of the season, topped only by an
88-64 decision over New Jersey on Dec. 5.
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Vancouver Clubhouse
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RECAPS
Indiana 95 Vancouver 75
Toronto 112 Atlanta 86
New Jersey 95 New York 86
Minnesota 101 Denver 90
Chicago 93 Charlotte 90
Milwaukee 115 Orlando 103
Phoenix 84 Philadelphia 71
LA Lakers 104 Washington 91
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