Hill's late layup lifts Pacers past Hornets, 103-102
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - George Hill's baseline layup with 4.9 seconds left lifted the Indiana Pacers to a come-from-behind 103-102 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night.
C.J. Watson had 22 points and David West, Luis Scola and Rodney Stuckey each had 15 as the Pacers came back from 21 points down in the third quarter to get their third straight win.
Al Jefferson had 30 points and 13 rebounds, and Brian Roberts added 19 points in the loss.
After Marvin Williams knocked down a 3-pointer with 14 seconds left to put the Hornets up by one, Hill drove the right side of the line. He got underneath the basket, turned around to find himself alone near the low block and converted the easy layup for the go-ahead basket.
The Hornets were out of timeouts and unable to stop the clock. Roberts' last-second, half-court heave hit the rim but bounced out.
Hill finished with 11 points on 4-for-10 shooting for the Pacers.
The Hornets, who came in with the best defense in the NBA since Jan. 1, allowed 64 points in the second half.
The Hornets led by 21 in the third quarter, but the Pacers rallied to take the lead at 89-88 on a jumper by Watson with 7 minutes left in the game.
Scola was a difference maker in the second half, where he scored all of his 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting.
After a disappointing loss on the road at Philadelphia on Saturday night, the Hornets came out focused early on. They built 56-39 at halftime behind 53.8 percent shooting before stretching it to 21 points midway through the third quarter.
Even after allowing the lead to slip away, it appeared the Hornets would escape after increasing their lead to four with less than 2 minutes to play.
But Watson knocked down a 3-pointer from the right baseline and West made a pair of free throws to give Indiana back the lead. Scola added one of two foul shots to push the lead to two before Williams' 3-pointer briefly gave the Hornets the lead.
Jefferson set the tone early on, keeping Roy Hibbert off balanced with a series of pump fakes and up-and-under moves.
___
TIP-INS
Pacers: West has scored in double figures in eight straight games and in 31 games overall this season.
Hornets: Forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist did not play and will be out through the All-Star break with a hamstring injury. Jeffery Taylor made his first start of the season in his place.
UP NEXT
Pacers: Host San Antonio on Monday night.
Hornets: Host Detroit on Tuesday night.