Hornets sting Pacers for victory
By By Richard Dark / EMG staff writer
Feb. 28, 2004
NEW ORLEANS It may have been Jonathan Bender Night at New Orleans Arena, but the New Orleans Hornets made sure they spoiled the South Mississippian's homecoming of sorts.
The Hornets put forth perhaps their best defensive effort of the season by whipping Bender's Indiana Pacers 89-77, before a sellout crowd of 17,218 on Friday night.
It marked the Hornets (32-26) second straight decisive victory over the Eastern Conference leading club. Indiana (42-16) came into the contest sporting the best record in the league, but hampered its cause with only 36 percent field goal shooting and losing for the first time in three outings.
Collectively, the Hornets held the Pacers All-Star to just 15 points. New Orleans got big nights from Jamal Mashburn with 22 points and Baron Davis, who had 18.
Bender came off the bench to toss in eight points on 2-of-8 shooting and two blocks in 21 minutes of action.
The Hornets hit 42 percent from the field and Jamaal Magloire collected his 25th double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds. New Orleans won the overall battle of the glass, 52-36.
Pacer star Reggie Miller was held to only four points.
Bender, as usual, didn't put too much emphasis on the one game. "I missed a lot of shots. It was just a bad game for us all around. I go into every game hoping to have a good game. I was a little nervous (playing close to home) but once I got into the rhythm of the game, I was cool."
The former Picayune High star, who has averaged 11.3 points per game in the previous three outings, got the Pacers going in the second quarter with an impressive alley-oop slam on their first possession, which pulled them to within 24-19. He followed that up a few minutes later with two free throws, a block and a drop step lay-in past Mashburn that made the score 33-30 with five minutes to go in the first half.
He then went to the bench and watched the Hornets finish the second period with a 13-4 burst. He added two more free throws at the close of the third. The Hornets also finished the first and third frames strong, with 14-2 and 16-6 runs, respectively.
New Orleans will head up the Mississippi to take on the Memphis Grizzlies. They return home next Wednesday to take on the Chicago Bulls.
