Pacers Lock Down Knicks, Take 2-1 Lead

The Indiana Pacers kept everything in front of them Saturday night.

The Pacers didn't let the Knicks get away from them on fast breaks, didn't let the Knicks get good 3-point looks and didn't even give New York a chance to challenge late.

Instead, Roy Hibbert, Paul George and Indiana showed what it can do when it plays its game.

Hibbert finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds, while George nearly came up with another postseason triple double, leading the Pacers to a crucial 82-71 Game 3 victory and a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals.

"That's how we play Pacers basketball," George said. "We just locked in, and it was just helping one another on the defensive end."

Sure, Indiana could have been sidetracked by the embarrassing 26-point loss at New York in Game 2. Or it could have gotten caught up in the pregame banter about Amare Stoudemire's impending return or J.R Smith's sudden illness.

But the Pacers never got distracted.

Coach Frank Vogel's bunch followed the same game plan it has all season -- locking down defensively, winning the rebounding battle and protecting its home court.

Check, check and check.

It's the same formula Indiana won Game 1, and now, if Indiana wins a fifth straight home playoff game Tuesday night, it will head back to Madison Square Garden with a commanding lead over a longtime rival.

Courtesy of (AP)