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Hill leads Pacers over Blazers in OT

Feb 8, 2014 - 5:55 AM Indianapolis, IN (SportsNetwork.com) - George Hill notched a career-best 37 points to go with nine rebounds and eight assists to help the Indiana Pacers outlast the Portland Trail Blazers in overtime, 118-113, from Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

With Indiana's two all-stars Paul George and Roy Hibbert struggling and Lance Stephenson out of the lineup with a sore lower back, Hill and David West carried the load offensively. Hill sent the game into overtime with his 3- pointer with 8.3 seconds left in regulation after knocking down timely buckets throughout the contest, and West scored 30 points on 13-of-16 from the field.

"You could just see the look in David West's eyes tonight," said Indiana head coach Frank Vogel. "His will just carried us to victory."

George had 17 points and seven assists but shot just 5-of-23, while Hibbert scored just four points.

The loss spoiled Damian Lillard's 38-point, 11-assist effort. LaMarcus Aldridge added 22 points and nine boards, Wesley Matthews scored all 19 of his points in the second half and Robin Lopez contributed 17 points and 14 rebounds.

Aldridge picked up his fifth foul at 6:37 of the fourth and checked out of the game with the Blazers holding an 87-79 advantage. George made the subsequent free throws, West scored on consecutive possessions after that and Hill caught Danny Granger's airball and laid it in to cut Indiana's deficit to two points with five minutes to play.

Portland took a timeout but failed to convert out of it, and Hill finished a floater to tie the score at 89-apiece.

"When I first walked in, I was yelling at everybody that I have a lot of energy," said Hill. "I don't know what it was. I just felt differently today."

Neither team led by more than three down the stretch, while the lead changed hands six times with four ties. Matthews scored 10 straight for Portland, which led 101-100 after his jumper at 1:09.

Nicolas Batum added a pair of free throws with 22 seconds left for his first points of the contest. On Indiana's final possession of regulation, George came off a curl and missed badly on a 3-point attempt, but West secured the offensive rebound and kicked to Hill, who reached his career-high with a trey that tied it at 103. Batum's fade-away jumper was off the mark at the other end.

Batum kicked off the extra session with a hard driving layup but it was all Indy after that. Hibbert's layup at 1:01 capped a 6-0 run which made it 113-107. Lillard made two 3s in the final minute, but George's stepback jumper and a pair of Hill free throws sealed it for the Pacers.

The Blazers led 28-16 after the first and 50-45 at intermission. Lillard capped his 20-point opening half by blowing past George for a scoop layup in the final seconds.

"It's a game I think we were in a position to win, obviously," said Portland coach Terry Stotts. "We didn't come up with some rebounds when we needed them and give Indiana credit. They made tough shots when they needed them."

Game Notes

Indiana has won four in a row ... This was the 150th career win for Vogel ... The Pacers outscored Portland 40-24 in the paint and 13-4 in transition ... Lillard became the first Blazer since Rod Strickland in 1994-95 to record multiple 30-point, 10-assist games in a season ... Portland has lost four of six and fell to 1-2 on its current four-game road trip ... Blazers guard Mo Williams (personal) was not with the team tonight. His timetable to return is unknown.