Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS ó ó Troy Murphy had 26 points and 15 rebounds, leading the Indiana Pacers to a 101-98 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night.
T.J. Ford added 15 points and 13 assists, and Mike Dunleavy scored 15 in his second start of the season for the Pacers (9-14), who have won three of four after a six-game losing streak.
Gerald Wallace had 29 points and 12 rebounds, Stephen Jackson scored 22 and Tyson Chandler added 13 points and 13 rebounds for the Bobcats (10-14). Charlotte dropped to 1-11 on the road.
The Bobcats, who trailed by as much as 18 in the third quarter, got within 101-98 after D.J. Augustin’s 3-pointer and Wallace’s two free throws late in the fourth. After a Pacers shot-clock violation, Wallace’s attempt at a tying 3 bounced out with less than five seconds left.
Dahntay Jones missed both free throws for the Pacers, giving Charlotte another chance with 1.4 seconds remaining. Augustin made a 3 from the top of the key, but it came just after the buzzer.
The Pacers shot 55 percent in the first quarter and raced out to a 21-7 lead on Murphy’s layup. Charlotte got within 24-23 later in the period, but Indiana controlled the second quarter and took a 56-46 halftime advantage.
Roy Hibbert’s dunk early in the third quarter gave the Pacers their biggest lead, 64-46. The Bobcats trimmed the deficit to 10 entering the fourth.
–
NOTES: Pacers All-Star swingman Danny Granger missed his fifth straight game with a torn right plantar fascia. Granger is expected to miss at least four weeks and will not require surgery. … Charlotte coach Larry Brown coached the Pacers from 1993-97. … Jackson played for the Pacers from 2004-07 and was part of the brawl between Pacers players and Detroit Pistons fans in Nov. 2004. Jackson’s turbulent days in Indiana ended when the Pacers traded him to Golden State in January 2007. He was booed by fans throughout the game. … Charlotte’s only road win came at Washington on Nov. 28.