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Rush lifts Pacers over Pistons

Feb 24, 2011 - 3:57 AM Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - Tyler Hansbrough came off the bench to score 21 points and grab 12 rebounds, and Brandon Rush scored the game- winning basket in the final seconds to give Indiana 102-101 victory over Detroit at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Rush replaced usual starter Mike Dunleavy, who sustained a broken left thumb in Tuesday's victory at Washington. Rush scored just nine points in his 14th start this season, but none were bigger than a backdoor dunk with 5.4 seconds left that put the Pacers up for good.

"They're not all going to be pretty," said Pacers interim head coach Frank Vogel. "Sometimes you have to grind it out to get the W."

Danny Granger scored 18 points for the Pacers, who have won five of seven.

Greg Monroe notched 27 points and 12 boards for the Pistons, who have lost five of their last six games. Rodney Stuckey added 21 points, while Ben Gordon supplied 12 points.

"It felt good to be in a game like that, but I'd rather come out with a win," Monroe said. "We have to play the whole game like we did in the fourth quarter and we might have a different outcome."

Monroe knotted the game at 95 with two free throws, but Granger put the home team up on a three-point shot with just under three minutes to play.

With 1:37 to go, Granger made it a three-point game following two free throws, but on the next possession, Monroe made a bank shot to cut it to one, 100-99.

Austin Daye's long jumper gave Detroit a brief lead with 11.1 ticks to go, however, Rush broke free for his wide open dunk with 5.4 seconds left to put the Pacers up, 102-101.

Detroit had one last chance to take the lead, but Stuckey turned the ball over after trying to shovel the ball to Monroe in the post.

The Pacers used a 10-3 run to finish out the first quarter for a 26-19 lead. Hansbrough scored six of the points during the run.

The lead ballooned to as much as 16 in the second after Granger's free throw off of a Stuckey technical foul. But the Pistons cut it down to six following Tracy McGrady's layup with 20 seconds left and Darren Collison's jumper made it a 51-43 score at the half.

Indiana regained the momentum and started out the second half with a 10-4 run. The Pistons, though, fought back at the end of the quarter with a 7-2 run. McGrady's 1-of-2 showing at the line trimmed it to 78-73 heading into the final quarter.

Detroit made it a two-point game, 78-76, with Will Bynum's trey to open the fourth quarter. Indiana still held onto the lead until Monroe tied the game at 95.

Game Notes

Vogel is 9-3 since taking over for the fired Jim O'Brien...Indiana is 16-12 at home this season...McGrady had 16 points in the loss...Josh McRoberts and Paul George each scored 10 points while Collison notched 11 points in the win.