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Granger keys Pacers to OT win over Rockets

Apr 2, 2012 - 3:03 AM Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Danny Granger scored 32 points, helped by 6-of-8 shooting from behind the arc, and blocked Chandler Parsons' potential game-winner at the buzzer, as the Pacers escaped Toyota Center with a 104-102 overtime win over the Rockets.

Roy Hibbert totaled 15 points and nine rebounds for the Pacers, who were coming off a loss at San Antonio on Saturday.

Goran Dragic had a team-high 22 points for Houston, which has split its last 10 games.

"We had our chances," Dragic said. "They were stronger than we were. It was a really tough loss."

The Rockets, who were outscored at the free throw line, 24-5, are a game ahead of Utah for the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

Indiana, currently the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race, went ahead late in regulation when Granger, with a hand in his face, buried a deep jumper to break tie at 89.

Patrick Patterson missed at the other end, and Darren Collison grabbed the rebound before being fouled with 19 seconds remaining.

Collison, an 83-percent free throw shooter coming in, went 1-for-2 at the foul line on two straight possessions around Dragic's running bank shot.

Dragic drove the lane again after Collison's missed a free throw with 14.9 seconds left and drew a foul on Paul George. Dragic made both from the line with 10.4 seconds showing, and David West was off to the right on his 18-foot buzzer-beating attempt.

In the extra frame, George converted a three-point play and Granger hit from long range the next time down to give the Pacers a 101-95 advantage with just over two minutes to play.

Again the Rockets made it interesting as Dragic drained a three-pointer and Parsons scored off a steal to cut the deficit to 101-100 with 39.4 seconds showing.

Another miss at the foul line by Collison with 10.5 seconds remaining gave the Rockets the ball back for a chance to tie or win, but Granger got a piece of Parsons' three-point attempt as the buzzer sounded.

"Danny made...a heck of a basketball play to block (Chandler) Parsons' shot," Pacers head coach Frank Vogel said.

Granger scored 10 points in the first quarter, which ended with the Pacers holding a 27-23 lead.

The Rockets never led in the second and trailed 44-42 at halftime, but came out and shot 67 percent (14-of-21) from the field in the third to go on top, 73-63 heading to the fourth.

Granger ended a 10-0 run midway through the fourth with a pair of three- pointers, the last yielding an 81-80 edge.

"I was able to get going and my shot was falling tonight," Granger said.

Game Notes

Collison finished with 11 points, seven assists and five rebounds, while West chipped in 10 points for Indiana, which won the battle on the glass, 54-44...Courtney Lee scored 20 points for Houston, which got 14 from Parsons and 13 from Luis Scola...Indiana turned it over 17 times.