Hornets roll over Pacers 122-100 behind strong first half

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- There was a point midway through the first quarter when Paul George began to wonder if the Indiana Pacers were ever going to keep the Charlotte Hornets from scoring.
Kemba Walker had 24 points and 10 assists, and the Hornets scored on their first 12 possessions to build a 21-point lead in the first quarter on their way to a 122-100 rout of the listless Pacers on Monday night.
Charlotte scored on every possession until Marvin Williams missed a jumper with 5:48 left in the first. By that point, the Hornets led 30-14 and were already on their way to a lopsided victory.
"We couldn't get a stop and we couldn't get a break," George said. "It's concerning that they are scoring and no one cares. No one cares. We are looking bad. We are terrible right now."
Charlotte, meanwhile, is looking pretty good under fourth-year coach Steve Clifford.
The Hornets (5-1) tied a 23-year franchise record with 75 points in the first half on 56.5 percent shooting and are off to the best start in franchise history.
Charlotte scored 35 points off 18 Indiana turnovers.
"We know the formula," said Charlotte center Spencer Hawes, who had 13 points and 13 rebounds. "The way we move the ball when we're playing defense, we'll do well. That's what we have to do moving forward because when we do that, we do pretty well."
Charlotte's starters were 17 of 25 from the field before halftime as the Hornets established a 20-point lead and never looked back.
"We're all out of whack. There's no trust, there's no chemistry, there's no belief. We're kind of just lifeless right now," George said.
TIP-INS
Pacers: C.J. Miles led the Pacers with 23 points, while Al Jefferson had 12 points and nine rebounds in his return to Charlotte. ... Indiana shot only 15 free throws, compared to Charlotte's 32.
Hornets: Have won four straight against the Pacers. ... Treveon Graham scored his first NBA points when he knocked down a 3-pointer from the left wing.
KIDD-GILCHRIST HURTS BACK
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist made all four shots from the field and all five free throws and had 13 points before leaving the game in the third quarter with a lower back injury.
Clifford said Kidd-Gilchrist is day to day.
"He's sore," Clifford said. "He wanted to keep playing. But he was laboring out there and we can't have him hurt. He's been sore. Hopefully, he'll get treatment and we'll see how he feels."
ROAD WOES
Indiana is 0-4 on the road this season, losing those games by an average margin of 16.5 points.
Pacers coach Nate McMillan said he can't explain his team's inconsistency away from home.
"We play a really good ballgame (against Miami) and we get on the road and we haven't even been in these games," McMillan said. "It's something we need to look at."
TOUCHING TRIBUTE
The Hornets put together a nice video tribute to Jefferson and showed it on the scoreboard during the first quarter. The crowd responded with a standing ovation. Jefferson played three seasons for the Hornets before signing last offseason with the Pacers.
"It was very touching. It was cool," Jefferson said. "It was good to know that they appreciate the time I spent here. It was cool and I was glad to see it."
PICK AND ROLL

The Hornets effectively used the pick and roll to beat the Pacers.
"It gets back to the same thing -- when we're taking 3s when the ball hits the paint and we have the ability to go to the basket, where we're very difficult to guard," Clifford said. "When we have those possessions where the ball sticks a little bit or it's not a good screen or not a good attack and you play around the perimeter ... then you put no pressure on the defense."
UP NEXT
Pacers: Return home to face Philadelphia on Wednesday night, where they are 3-0 this season.
Hornets: In the midst of a three-game homestand and host the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.

Pacers

starters	MIN	FG	3PT	FT	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
T. YoungPF	16	0-4	0-0	0-0	0	5	5	1	0	0	0	3	-30	0
P. GeorgeSF	33	4-12	1-6	1-1	2	5	7	6	2	0	5	2	-14	10
M. TurnerC	21	5-8	0-2	2-2	0	5	5	0	0	2	1	2	-22	12
J. TeaguePG	19	3-8	1-3	2-2	1	0	1	6	0	1	4	1	-23	9
M. EllisSG	17	3-4	1-2	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	5	-28	7
bench	MIN	FG	3PT	FT	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
L. AllenPF	22	2-2	0-0	0-0	2	5	7	0	0	0	1	3	+6	4
C.J. MilesSF	25	8-15	5-11	2-2	1	3	4	0	1	0	2	1	-3	23
G. NiangSF	9	0-2	0-0	0-0	1	3	4	0	0	0	1	1	+2	0
A. JeffersonC	19	6-11	0-0	0-1	3	6	9	1	1	0	0	2	-2	12
K. SeraphinC	8	1-3	0-0	0-0	0	3	3	0	0	0	0	0	+2	2
A. BrooksPG	21	1-7	0-3	2-2	0	2	2	7	1	1	2	5	+0	4
J. YoungPG	16	4-10	0-2	1-2	0	2	2	2	1	0	0	0	+3	9
G. Robinson IIISG	13	3-7	1-4	1-3	1	1	2	0	2	0	0	0	-1	8
TEAM		40-93	9-33	11-15	11	40	51	23	8	4	18	25		100
		43.0%	27.3%	73.3%

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Hornets

starters	MIN	FG	3PT	FT	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
M. WilliamsPF	19	4-10	2-5	2-3	0	4	4	0	0	0	1	1	+21	12
C. ZellerPF	23	5-7	0-0	3-3	0	5	5	0	0	0	0	2	+21	13
M. Kidd-GilchristSF	19	4-4	0-0	5-5	0	1	1	1	1	1	0	1	+27	13
K. WalkerPG	25	7-11	5-6	5-6	0	2	2	10	2	1	1	0	+21	24
N. BatumSG	30	2-6	1-2	4-4	0	6	6	4	3	0	1	1	+13	9
bench	MIN	FG	3PT	FT	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
C. WoodPF	3	0-1	0-1	0-0	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	-3	0
S. HawesPF	22	6-11	1-3	0-0	2	11	13	1	2	0	1	2	+8	13
F. Kaminsky IIIC	30	5-14	0-6	1-2	0	2	2	2	0	1	4	1	-3	11
B. RobertsPG	4	1-2	0-1	0-0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	-4	2
R. SessionsPG	21	3-7	0-2	4-5	0	1	1	7	1	0	2	1	+0	10
T. GrahamSG	14	1-2	1-2	0-0	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	5	+5	3
A. HarrisonSG	3	0-1	0-0	0-0	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	-3	0
M. BelinelliSG	27	3-8	2-4	4-4	1	2	3	4	3	0	1	1	+7	12
TEAM		41-84	12-32	28-32	3	40	43	30	12	3	11	15		122
		48.8%	37.5%	87.5%

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Matchup

FG Made-Attempted	40-93	41-84
Field Goal %	43.0	48.8
3PT Made-Attempted	9-33	12-32
Three Point %	27.3	37.5
FT Made-Attempted	11-15	28-32
Free Throw %	73.3	87.5
Total Rebounds	58	46
Offensive Rebounds	11	3
Defensive Rebounds	40	40
Team Rebounds	7	3
Assists	23	30
Steals	8	12
Blocks	4	3
Total Turnovers	18	12
Points Off Turnovers	35	18
Fast Break Points	18	23
Points in Paint	40	46
Personal Fouls	25	15
Technical Fouls	1	1
Flagrant Fouls	0	0

Field Goal %

• IND 43.0
• 48.8 CHA

Three Point %

• IND 27.3
• 37.5 CHA

Turnovers

• IND 18
• 12 CHA

Rebounds

• IND 58
• 46 CHA