Jackson torches Pacers in return to Indy

It was on January 17 when the Pacers and Warriors completed a blockbuster deal with Indiana sending Jackson, Al Harrington, Sarunas Jasikevicius and Josh Powell to Golden State in exchange for Troy Murphy, Mike Dunleavy Jr., Ike Diogu and Keith McLeod.

"It definitely feels good to come back and beat your old team," Jackson said. "I told Al before the game I didn’t know I would play this well tonight, but I knew one of us would play well."

Harrington also returned to haunt his old club, ending with 16 points and 10 rebounds, as the Warriors won for the second time in three contests. They also broke a four-game skid versus Indiana.

Jackson played an instrumental role in both meetings between the teams this season, but on Monday he was on the opposite bench. He hit a three-pointer in Indiana’s 108-106 win over Golden State on November 29 in Oakland, but just over two months later he turned the tables on his former team.

"We know what Jack is capable of. He was the difference maker in both the games," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "The whole game we could never get anything going."

Jackson ended 10-of-22 from the field, including 4-of-6 from three-point range, and missed just one of his 13 free throws to overshadow a night by committing seven of Golden State’s 25 turnovers. Jackson had a solid performance playing point guard.

"I have a new respect for point guards," Jackson continued.

Monta Ellis contributed 21 points and 10 rebounds, but left midway through the third quarter after sustaining a left knee contusion when colliding with Indiana’s Danny Granger.

"Home sweet home, but we got a win and that’s the most important thing," Harrington said. "Monta did his best B.D. (Baron Davis) impersonation until he got hurt. Then Jack filled in the rest of the way and had a great game."

Jermaine O’Neal had 24 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots for the Pacers, who shot 35.1 percent from the field and had their three-game winning streak broken. Jamaal Tinsley ended with 22 points, 10 assists and four steals, and Dunleavy had a good showing versus his ex-teammates with 11 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.

"We weren’t ready to play," O’Neal said. "We’ve got to be ready to beat teams that we’re supposed to beat. We laughed and joked with the guys before the game. We just weren’t ready. It’s one of those bad losses that you have."

The Warriors started quickly with a 16-4 spurt to start the game, ended by a dunk from Andris Biedrins. A jam by Adonal Foyle widened Golden State’s margin to 34-18 after 12 minutes.

It got worse in the second for the Pacers, as they fell behind 40-19 on an Ellis layup less than two minutes into the quarter. Ellis put the exclamation point on the first half by banking in a shot from just inside halfcourt for a 65-42 lead at the intermission.

The Warriors never gave the Pacers any hope, holding a 91-72 lead going into the fourth and the margin remained at double digits the rest of the way.

Biedrins had 10 points and 15 rebounds for the Warriors, who also got 15 points form Mickael Pietrus and 11 from Matt Barnes.

Granger ended with 16 points and Darrell Armstrong 12 for the Pacers.

Armstrong also sent the fans to their loudest cheer of the night when he blocked a Jackson layup try in the final minute of the third quarter.

Game Notes

Jackson’s career-high is 42 points, set versus Washington on March 12, 2004...Golden State is 2-3 on its six-game road trip, which ends Wednesday at Minnesota...This was the start of a six-game homestand for Indiana...The Warriors snapped a five-game skid at Conseco Fieldhouse...The Warriors held a 57-42 advantage on the glass...O’Neal has 1,107 rejections in his Pacers career, four behind the franchise’s all-time leader, Rik Smits...Jasikevicius was held scoreless in nine minutes, while Powell didn’t play...Diogu had four points in 10 minutes and McLeod was scoreless in five minutes...Davis (cramping in left calf/hamstring) sat out.