George scores 32 to lead Pacers to a 94-82 win over Pistons
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Paul George scored 21 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 94-82 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night.
At the final buzzer, a brief scuffle broke out at midcourt among several players.
George Hill had 18 points and Monta Ellis added 14 for the Pacers (19-14), who snapped a two game skid.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Ersan Ilyasova and Reggie Jackson each scored 12 points for the Pistons (18-16), who have lost four of five games.
The Pacers went on a 12-2 run in the third quarter to take a 62-53 lead after George made two free throws and a dunk.
In the fourth, George made a layup on a hard drive to the basket, then made three 3-pointers, including one to give the Pacers an 88-79 lead with 2:11 left to play.
When George scored with 22.6 seconds left to play to put Indiana ahead 92-82, Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy picked up back-to-back technical fouls and was ejected.
George made both free throws after that, too.
Even when the Pacers went on its run in the third, the Pistons stuck around.
Morris hit a 3-pointer at the end of the third and Aron Baynes made a pair of free throws at the start of the fourth to get Detroit to 64-61.
Johnson converted a 3-point play to pull the Pistons to 71-69.
George made two free throws and scored a layup on a hard drive to the basket to put the Pacers ahead 77-71 before he made back-to-back 3-pointers, including one to give the Pacers an 83-75 lead with 3:14 left to play.
TIP-INS
Pistons: Andre Drummond finished with 11 points and 18 rebounds. . Ilyasova also had seven rebounds. . All of Detroit's starters scored in double figures.
Pacers: George also had 14 rebounds. . Ian Mahinmi (knee) returned to the starting line-up and Jordan Hill (dental work) played after both missed Thursday's game against Milwaukee.
UP NEXT
Pistons: hosts Orlando on Monday.
Pacers: at Miami on Monday to start a four-game road trip.