Indiana Pacers players and coaches often have said depth is one of the team's best assets.
They proved it on Saturday night.
Roy Hibbert scored 20 points and led six players in double figures to help the Pacers beat the Charlotte Bobcats 99-77.
The teams were in similar situations, both having played tough games one night earlier. Indiana was coming off an 87-74 win at Boston, while Charlotte was following an overtime loss to Atlanta.
The Pacers were running full speed in the second half as the Bobcats were wilting. Indiana trailed 49-43 at halftime but outscored Charlotte 56-28 after the break.
Indiana's reserves outscored Charlotte's 21-11 in the second half.
"We've got eight guys, maybe nine that could probably start on other NBA teams," forward Danny Granger of the Pacers said. "That's a lot of depth. I'd like to say we have more depth than most teams."
Hibbert, who briefly left the game with a sprained right ankle, also had eight rebounds and three blocks. Tyler Hansbrough scored 15 points, Darren Collison had 14, Granger and George Hill each added 13 and David West 10 for the Pacers (6-2), who improved to 3-0 at home.
D.J. Augustin scored 20 points, Gerald Henderson had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Byron Mullens added 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Bobcats (2-6).
Indiana shot 51 percent and held the Bobcats to 33-percent shooting — the fifth time the Pacers have held an opponent under 40 percent.
Charlotte disappeared after halftime.
"We did not play tough," Charlotte coach Paul Silas said. "They banged us up and we didn't respond."
CHARLOTTE (77) — Diaw 1-8 0-0 2, Thomas 3-6 4-6 10, Diop 2-3 0-0 4, Augustin 7-19 3-4 20, Henderson 5-16 2-5 14, Mullens 3-11 4-4 10, Brown 2-6 1-2 5, Walker 3-10 0-0 6, White 1-5 0-0 2, Biyombo 2-4 0-0 4, Higgins 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-89 14-21 77.
INDIANA (99) — Granger 4-12 4-6 13, West 5-8 0-0 10, Hibbert 10-16 0-0 20, Collison 5-10 4-5 14, George 2-5 2-3 6, Hansbrough 6-12 3-5 15, Hill 6-8 0-0 13, Jones 0-3 6-7 6, Price 0-2 0-0 0, Foster 1-1 0-0 2, Amundson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 39-77 19-26 99.
Charlotte
30
19
14
14
—
77
Indiana
22
21
28
28
—
99
3-Point Goals—Charlotte 5-16 (Augustin 3-5, Henderson 2-4, Mullens 0-1, Walker 0-3, Diaw 0-3), Indiana 2-9 (Hill 1-1, Granger 1-4, George 0-1, Jones 0-1, Price 0-2). Fouled Out—Diaw. Rebounds—Charlotte 62 (Mullens 11), Indiana 50 (Hibbert, Collison 8). Assists—Charlotte 12 (Augustin 4), Indiana 15 (Collison 4). Total Fouls—Charlotte 21, Indiana 20. Technicals—Henderson, Hill, Jones. A—17,226 (18,165).
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