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Pacers put perfect record on the line in Brooklyn

Nov 9, 2013 - 3:53 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Indiana Pacers are off to the best start in franchise history, but they will face a stern test Saturday night when they visit the Brooklyn Nets.

The Pacers matched the 1970-71 ABA team for most wins to start the season with a 91-84 home victory Friday night over the Toronto Raptors. Indiana came back during the second quarter and won the second and third periods by a combined 50-27.

"We didn't play a great first half, we weren't terrible, but we allowed them to get out in transition in the first quarter and we allowed Rudy Gay to get off," said Pacers head coach Frank Vogel. "I thought we tightened the screws in both of those areas in the second half."

Paul George continued his spectacular start with 23 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals. Roy Hibbert was great on Friday with 20 points, seven boards and two blocks.

George Hill returned from a three-game absence due to a sore a hip with 14 points.

The Pacers held the Raptors to 39.5 percent from the floor.

The Nets have had a tough time of it so far during the 2013-14 campaign. They have alternated losses and wins thus far and it's probably no coincidence that the wins have occurred at the Barclays Center and the losses have been on the road.

The latest setback came on Friday night when the Nets fell in overtime to the Washington Wizards, 112-108.

"This is a process. Obviously, you have to have some type of patience with that process, but losing is losing. It sucks," Nets forward Kevin Garnett said.

Trevor Ariza nailed a 3-pointer with 40.9 seconds left in overtime to give the Wiz the lead they'd never squander. Washington outscored the Nets, 13-9 in the extra session.

Brook Lopez led the way for Brooklyn with 23 points. Joe Johnson added 16 and Deron Williams chipped in 14 points. However, Williams had only three assists and six turnovers.

The Brooklyn bench had a great night. Shaun Livingston scored 12 points, followed by 11 from Jason Terry and 10 points and 13 rebounds from Andray Blatche. All totaled, the second unit had 47 points.

The Nets needed it because Garnett and Pierce were awful. They combined for eight points on 3-for-16 shooting.

Brooklyn had 23 turnovers, which led to 22 Wizards points.

The Nets swept all three meetings last season and have taken four straight overall against the Pacers. Indiana has dropped two in a row on the road in this series, but won six straight before that.