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Morrison, Bobcats earn first in Indiana

Dec 31, 2006 - 7:07 AM INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Rookie Adam Morrison wanted to help the Charlotte Bobcats end the stigma of never beating the Indiana Pacers on their home floor.

Morrison scored a season-high 30 points and Raymond Felton dished out a career-high 19 assists as the Bobcats posted a 113-102 victory over the Pacers.

Emeka Okafor had 19 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and added five blocks for Charlotte, which earned its first-ever win at Conseco Fieldhouse after four initial losses.

Morrison shot 9-of-17 from the field and hit both of his 3-point attempts for the Bobcats, who shot 50 percent (37-of-74) and have won two straight following a three-game losing streak.

"We did a good job down the stretch," Morrison said. "We found a side screen and roll that was working for us, and Felton did a good job finding the right people."

"Morrison shot the ball well," Bobcats coach Bernie Bickerstaff said. "He's a rookie and he shot it with confidence. That's the way he's been. That's how rookies are, they climb the mountain and then they go back down, but he's got courage."

Felton's 19 assists surpassed the 16 he accrued against New York on December 16.

"When I slow down, I'm able to pick out when to attack," Felton said. "I'm able to see when to use my speed or quickness and when to pass or shoot it. I think I've gotten 100 percent better at that, and it's showing."

"I thought the floor game of Raymond got all his teammates involved," Bickerstaff added. "This is one of his best games, and he only took eight or nine shots. Ray had 19 assists, and that's a learning process to incorporate his teammates."

Matt Carroll, who had a career-high 27 points in the Bobcats' triple-overtime win vs. the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, scored 18 points, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range for Charlotte, which has earned six of its nine victories this season against teams with winning records.

"The chemistry of the team has gotten better. We're finding open guys and just executing our offense better," Carroll said. "We're basically just letting guys do what they do best."

Jermaine O'Neal scored 27 points, hauled in 12 rebounds and added four blocks for the Pacers, who failed to win a third straight game for the seventh time this season.

"We played hard in the third quarter, and that's something we should have done in the first two quarters," Pacers guard Jamaal Tinsley said. "Being consistent is something we've been struggling with. I don't know what needs to be done, that's the coaches decision. I just go play basketball."