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Bobcats romp past Pacers
Mohammed dominates on the inside
AP Photo
Nazr Mohammed of the Bobcats shoots over Roy Hibbert of the Pacers.
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Published: November 23, 2009
Updated: 11/23/2009 12:25 am
CHARLOTTE - Stephen Jackson made his home debut with the Charlotte Bobcats, and Tyler Hansbrough played his first professional game in North Carolina yesterday, but the star turned out to be an unexpected one -- the old center who barely played last season.
Nazr Mohammed continued his surprising turnaround, scoring 18 points and controlling the inside as Charlotte snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 104-88 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
With Tyson Chandler sidelined for a second straight game with back spasms, Mohammed, 32, was in the starting lineup. Seven months after saying he wanted to play elsewhere rather than ride the bench again, he hit eight of 10 shots, grabbed five rebounds, blocked two shots and outplayed Pacers big man Roy Hibbert.
Dahntay Jones scored 19 points, and Danny Granger had 18 for the Pacers.
It made for a sour homecoming for Hansbrough, who led North Carolina to the NCAA championship in the spring while becoming the Tar Heels' all-time leading scorer. He grabbed spare tickets from teammates for friends and family. Four of the best courtside seats went to his old coach, Roy Williams, and his family.
Hansbrough is still working himself into the rotation after a preseason shin injury. He didn't get his first field goal until the fourth quarter, finishing with eight points, six rebounds and five fouls in 21 minutes.
"College atmosphere vs. NBA is a little different," Hansbrough said. "But it's always good to come back to Carolina and see everybody."
INDIANA -- Granger 5-14 6-7 18, D.Jones 7-15 5-7 19, Hibbert 3-9 1-2 7, Ford 3-6 1-2 7, Rush 5-13 0-0 11, Murphy 3-8 0-0 7, Watson 2-6 1-1 5, Hansbrough 2-4 4-4 8, Foster 0-0 0-0 0, Price 2-3 1-1 6. Totals 32-78 19-24 88.
CHARLOTTE -- Wallace 3-9 5-6 11, Diaw 8-13 0-0 17, Mohammed 8-10 2-4 18, Felton 2-7 4-4 8, Jackson 5-13 0-0 10, Murray 3-11 4-5 10, Augustin 1-2 0-1 2, Brown 5-7 3-4 13, Diop 0-0 0-0 0, Graham 3-3 2-2 8, Henderson 3-6 1-2 7, Ajinca 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 41-82 21-28 104.
Indiana 20 21 19 28 -- 88
Charlotte 28 24 29 23 -- 104
3-Point Goals -- Indiana 5-22 (Granger 2-7, Price 1-2, Murphy 1-5, Rush 1-5, Ford 0-1, Watson 0-2), Charlotte 1-10 (Diaw 1-1, Wallace 0-1, Murray 0-1, Henderson 0-1, Augustin 0-1, Jackson 0-2, Felton 0-3). Rebounds -- Indiana 44 (Murphy 8), Charlotte 55 (Wallace 11). Assists -- Indiana 15 (Watson 5), Charlotte 22 (Felton 6). Total Fouls -- Indiana 22, Charlotte 21. Technicals -- Indiana defensive three second, Jackson, Charlotte defensive three second. A -- 14,730 (19,077).
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