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Pacers' Strong Defensive Effort Throttles Clippers 107-80

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Pacers' Strong Defensive Effort Throttles Clippers 107-80

Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - Danny Granger finished with a game-high 22 points and Roy Hibbert added 18 points and eight rebounds as Indiana topped the Los Angeles Clippers, 107-80, at Conseco Fieldhouse.

A.J. Price and Brandon Rush both supplied 14 points and James Posey contributed 12 points in a reserve role for the Pacers, who have won 15 of their last 18 home dates with the Clippers.

Eric Gordon finished with 19 points while Blake Griffin and Al-Farouq Aminu added 12 points apiece in the loss for L.A., which is winless in seven road tilts.

"We really got after them defensively after the first quarter," said Pacers head coach Jim O'Brien. "We had 58 hustle points, which is a key ingredient. We played a tired basketball team playing on a back-to-back."

Gordon ended the first with 11 points to help the Clippers take a 25-22 lead.

A Roy Hibbert jumper 4 1/2 minutes into the second quarter tied the game at 33 and he added a short hook shot with three minutes left to extend the lead to 44-38. The Pacers center added a break away dunk with 1:17 remaining to put Indiana up by nine, 49-40.

Indiana held a 53-43 advantage at the break.

Ford's short bank shot with over six minutes to play in the third put the Pacers up 70-53. Posey added a triple with 2:28 left to put Indiana up by 20. Posey added another trey at the buzzer to extend the lead to 80-59 heading to the final stanza.

Indiana's lead never dropped below 19 in the fourth.

"Our lack of offense in transition helped them," said Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro. "(Roy) Hibbert killed us inside and Indiana moved the ball well."

The Clippers have lost their last eight and are off to their worst start since 1998-99 (1-17)...Brian Cook finished with 11 points for L.A...Ford finished with 11 points and five assists for the Pacers...Indiana was without Mike Dunleavy, who missed the game due to the birth of his first child...The Pacers won the rebounding margin, 47-42...Indiana will finish a three-game homestand against Orlando on Saturday.

May 15, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3) drives to the basket as Indiana Pacers point guard Darren Collison (2) defends during the first half in game two of the Eastern Conference semifinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena.  Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

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