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Pacers crush Pistons

Feb 23, 2013 - 5:14 AM Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - David West posted team-highs of 18 points and eight rebounds as the Indiana Pacers cruised to another blowout victory, this time crushing the Detroit Pistons, 114-82, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

The Pacers have won eight of their last 10 and have taken their last three by a combined 90 points, including a 34-point win over the Knicks on Wednesday. Indiana passed New York in the Eastern Conference standings on Friday and sits alone in second place behind the Miami Heat.

All five Indiana starters scored in double figures, while rookie reserve Orlando Johnson netted all 14 of his points in the first half.

The Central Division leaders shot 56 percent from the floor, held Detroit to 35 percent shooting and led by as many as 43 points.

"I think we've found our identity," said Pacers All-Star forward Paul George. "We're a team that's uptempo, and with our smothering defense, it's the best of both worlds."

Detroit had four players finish with double-digit scoring efforts, as Will Bynum led the way with 17 points.

The Pistons, playing their third game in four days since the All-Star break, trailed by double digits over the final 42:17.

The Pacers scored 13 of the game's first 15 points and added another 13-1 run later in the opening frame to take a 26-9 lead. They recorded their highest scoring first quarter of the season by shooting 12-of-18 (67 percent) from the floor and were ahead by a healthy 34-17 cushion.

Johnson, a second-round pick in last year's draft out of UC-Santa Barbara, got in on the act early in the second when he hit two 3-pointers, the second coming on a 9-0 spurt that extended the lead to 46-21 near the midway point.

The margin reached 28 late in the half, and it was a 60-36 game at halftime.

Things stayed one-sided after the break as the Pistons missed their first 10 shots and trailed by as many as 40 after George's 3-pointer made it an 88-48 rout near the final minute of the third.

"We didn't get anything done," Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva said. "They came out strong and we couldn't match it."

Game Notes

These teams play again on Saturday in Detroit, and the Pacers can sweep the season series for the first time since the 2009-10 campaign ... George Hill and George scored 15 and 12 points, respectively, while Lance Stephenson and Roy Hibbert rounded out Indiana's starters with 10 points apiece ... Detroit has lost 10 straight in Indianapolis since last winning there on Jan. 29, 2008 ... The Pistons have alternated wins and losses over the past six ... Pistons point guard Brandon Knight did not play due to a hyperextended right knee ... All 24 players that saw playing time scored at least one point.