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Granger leads Pacers over Sixers

Mar 15, 2012 - 2:10 AM Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - Danny Granger had 20 points to lead five Pacers in double figures, as Indiana averaged over 63 percent shooting in the second and third quarters to rout the 76ers, 111-94, on Wednesday.

David West finished with 18 points, George Hill contributed 17 and Tyler Hansbrough and Roy Hibbert had 14 apiece for the Pacers, who won their second game in as many nights.

"Tonight we probably had our best offensive game of the year," said Pacers head coach Frank Vogel. "They're a very good basketball team. This is a big win for us."

Evan Turner's game-high 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting were not enough for Philadelphia. Jrue Holiday netted 17 points and Elton Brand donated 16 for the Sixers, who saw a three-game winning streak snapped.

76ers center Spencer Hawes committed five fouls while playing limited minutes in his long-anticipated return to the starting lineup.

The 23-year-old had missed the Sixers' previous 17 games with a strained left Achilles after missing 11 earlier in the season with both the Achilles injury and a back issue.

Philadelphia shot 61.1 percent in the first quarter and led throughout the majority of the first half, but a 16-7 Indiana run midway through the second stanza eliminated the Sixers' largest advantage of the contest. The Pacers eventually held a 54-51 edge at intermission.

The 76ers did not go away in the third, coming to within one point several times. Indiana's precision shooting kept the visitors at bay, however, and the Pacers never surrendered the lead before finishing the frame with seven unanswered points to go up 83-75.

It was more of the same in the fourth, as a pair of Hill three-pointers ended any hope of a late Philadelphia run by giving Indiana a 103-88 advantage and a double-digit lead it would hold thereafter.

"They hit shots. All the momentum rolled their way," said Turner. "They just had a great rhythm all night."

Game Notes

Hawes played 19 minutes, 37 seconds in his return...Hibbert had nine rebounds...Thaddeus Young and Andre Iguodala finished with 12 and 10 points, respectively, for Philadelphia...Indiana's largest lead was 19, and the Pacers held a 37-26 rebounding advantage.