Mahinmi has 17 points and 10 rebounds as Pacers beat Pelicans 91-86
Ian Mahinmi had 17 points (12 in the paint) and 10 rebounds, and the Indiana Pacers beat the New Orleans Pelicans 91-86.
Mahinmi’s hook shot put the Pacers ahead for good with 4:46 left in the fourth quarter.
The Pelicans got within 89-86 on Alexis Ajinca’s layup with 1:38 to play. They had the ball down 3 with 18 seconds left, but Monta Ellis blocked Eric Gordon’s corner 3-pointer, lifting the Pacers’ chance to win from 92% to 95%. It would have tied the game. Paul George followed with 2 free throws, and the Pelicans got no closer.
During clutch time, the Pacers outscored the Pelicans 10-4. Mahinmi scored 4 of the Pacers’ 10 on 1 for 1 shooting and 2 for 3 at the line. Early in the fourth quarter, Jrue Holiday had 2 of his 4 steals in 30 seconds, both with the game within five points.
For the Pelicans, Tyreke Evans had 27 points (16 in the third quarter) and 4 steals, and Ryan Anderson added 21 points and 3 steals off the bench. Ajinca had 4 points, a season-high 12 rebounds and 5 steals off the bench.
The Pacers shot 44.4% from the field to the Pelicans’ 37.3% and outscored them 50-32 in the paint. The Pelicans gave up 14 offensive rebounds, about 4 more than usual for the shots the Pacers missed.