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 The Pacers bounced back from Sunday's 11-point defeat to the Brooklyn Nets and won for the fifth time in six games.
With team owner Michael Jordan looking on from the bench, the Bobcats lost their fifth in a row. They've dropped 24 of 26 since Thanksgiving.
Indiana won this one going away behind some dominant inside play, outrebounding the Bobcats 60-31 and outscoring them 52-22 in the paint, once again exposing Charlotte's problems down low.
Paul George had 16 points and 10 rebounds, while David West added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Pacers. George Hill chipped in with 16 points and seven rebounds.
All five Pacers starters had at least seven rebounds.
Gerald Henderson led the Bobcats with 15 points, while Kemba Walker and Ramon Sessions each had 13.
The Central Division-leading Pacers (24-15) have not lost consecutive games since Dec. 9.
The Pacers led by 10 at halftime and broke it open in the third quarter as George scored eight quick points to set the tone.
By the time the fourth quarter arrived, the Pacers had extended their lead to 26 and the Bobcats appeared completely demoralized, knowing they simply had no answers for Indiana's frontcourt.
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By the midway point of the third quarter the Pacers had taken complete control of the boards, outrebounding the Bobcats 47-20. Things were so bad for the Bobcats they only took 16 shots in the entire third quarter and made just seven.
As has often been the case this season, the Bobcats got off to a slow start, falling behind 20-9 early.
The Pacers, led by Hibbert and West, dominated the paint from the outset, outscoring the Bobcats 18-2 in the first quarter.
With Byron Mullens still out with a lingering ankle injury, the Bobcats started Bismack Biyombo at center and Hakim Warrick at power forward. However, they combined for just seven rebounds in 37 minutes of action.
It didn't help that the Bobcats shot just 34 percent from the field.
As for Jordan, he made a quick exit early in the fourth quarter after the Pacers pushed the lead to 30.
The Bobcats looked very much like a team playing its fourth game in five nights, showing little to no emotion or enthusiasm. The Pacers seemed to take advantage of that lack of energy early and the game was never out of their control.
NOTES: North Carolina coach Roy Williams had courtside seats to watch former Tar Heels star Tyler Hansbrough. ... Walker left in the second quarter after tweaking his ankle but returned in the third.
[Associated
Press; By STEVE REED]
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