Granger leads playoff-hopeful Pacers past Bobcats

Darrell Armstrong scored 16 points and Troy Murphy added 13 for the Pacers, who won for just the second time in their last seven games. Jermaine O’Neal scored 14 points, but shot just 4-of-18 from the field for Indiana, which is one game behind the Orlando Magic for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

"I just kind of got into a rhythm and coach was calling a play for me and I just kept putting it in the hole," said Granger. "I feel better about the win because we really needed this one. We have no room for error right now so I’m glad I came out and helped my team win."

Gerald Wallace poured in 29 points and grabbed nine boards for Charlotte, which had won two in a row and four of its last five games coming in. Walter Herrmann added 15 points and Emeka Okafor had 15 points and nine rebounds for the Bobcats, who are five games out of the final spot in the East.

Indiana took control of the game with a 12-0 run, stretching from the end of the third quarter through the beginning of the fourth. The Pacers led 87-77 with 11 minutes to go.

Charlotte was able to get within two possessions on a couple occasions, but Indiana had an answer every time and won easily.

The Pacers shot 54.8 percent from the field and outrebounded Charlotte 41-36.

"This game had a little more at stake because we are trying to see if we can get the last spot in the playoffs," said Raymond Felton. "It’s not over. Anything can happen at this point. We are going to try to win the next one."

Indiana began the game with a 13-4 run, capped by a Murphy layup midway through the first frame. The Bobcats gradually clawed their way back into it and pulled within two, 25-23 at the end of the first quarter.

Charlotte took its first lead of the game on a Carroll three early in the second stanza. The two teams went back and forth the rest of the quarter, and a Wallace triple with two seconds remaining gave the Bobcats a 55-51 advantage at the half.

Okafor’s layup sparked a 6-0 Charlotte spurt to open the third and put the Bobcats up 61-51 early in the third period.

Trailing 71-63, the Pacers went on a 10-0 run, capped by a Keith McLeod trey which gave Indiana a 73-71 edge with just under four minutes to go in the third frame.

Game Notes

Indiana’s Jamaal Tinsley missed the game with a sore elbow...Jeff Foster sat out due to back spasms...Charlotte’s Sean May missed the action with a sore right knee...Derek Anderson was held out with right knee swelling.