A.J. Price jump-started the Indiana Pacers fourth quarter comeback and Dahntay Jones finished what Price started with his 19 fourth-quarter points. In fact, after the game Kurt Rambis said he didn't do a good enough job helping his team stop Jones. If he was honest, Rambis would probably say his initial plan was to force Jones to beat them, which of course he did.
But others made plays to help close out the win, none bigger than the defensive possession Josh McRoberts turned in at crunch time.
Twenty seconds of hand-to-hand combat with three minutes to play in a two-possession game.
The Minnesota Timberwolves had the ball down 107-103 with plans to go through their all-atar forward Kevin Love to keep things tight. Love is so technically sound in the post he seems to find a way to get the ball when he want it. Josh McRoberts was tasked with keeping the ball out of Love's hands.
"I was just trying not to let him catch the ball on that possession," McRoberts said. "He's their all-star, that's who they want to go to, so Frank always says, they can't score if they don't get it."
Easier said than done, as McRoberts battled through Love's stout base multiple times to front and deny Love an angle to catch the pass. Love continued to try to re-post and McRoberts continued to battle through. Finally, the T'Wolves swung the ball to the opposite side which gave Love a chance to carve out a spot on the opposite block.
When Love turned to shoot, McRoberts was right there to not only swat the shot attempt, but keep the ball in play for the Pacers to take the other way. Dahntay Jones cashed it in at the other end for one of his two 3-pointers putting the Pacers up 110-103.
That play killed Minny's will. Ballgame.
"I was trying to make sure he didn't get the ball," McRoberts explained. "But he got possession on the weak side because of the way I was playing him and I was able to time it up and get a block at the end."
Sounds easy enough, but the battle leading up to the block was anything but easy. Just one of several big plays down the stretch that secured the win for the Pacers.
After the jump, a few links of interest from the comeback win last night.
- Box score
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PACERS: Game Rewind: Pacers 116, Timberwolves 105
Game Rewind has the word from the locker room, exclusive analysis, quotes, notes and stats from the Pacers-Timberwolves Game Friday at Conseco Fieldhouse. -
Bench powers Pacers | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com
Mike Wells reports on the Pacers bench coming to the rescue last night. -
Wolves fail wildly at keeping up with Jones | StarTribune.com
Jerry Zgoda reports on the Minnesota's reaction to getting run over by Dahntay Jones in the fourth quarter. - AP: Surging Pacers rally past Timberwolves 116-105
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Pacers rally to beat Timberwolves 116-105 - fox59.com
Brittany Diehl reports on the Pacers' strong finish for the win. -
Run Away! - Canis Hoopus
Stop-n-Pop captures the essence of Dahntay Jones in the fourth quarter last night. - Game 51 Recap – Pacers Steamroll Timberwolves in Fourth Quarter
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NBA: Bench Leads Pacers to 116-105 Victory Over Minnesota - SB Nation Indiana
Bill Potter recaps the comeback win for the Pacers. -
Rush stays patient in return from injury | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com
Mike Wells notes Frank Vogel continues having the good problem of finding time to work Brandon Rush back into the lineup. Also, A.J. Price comes up big, perimeter defense not so much and the Heatgame on Tuesday makes NBA TV's Fan Game. -
Rush eager to get back in action with new-look Pacers
Bruno checks in with the Brandon Rush who is ready to return from an ankle injury. -
Pacers new-look offense
Bruno takes a look at the Pacers offense for Fox Sports Midwest. -
Create-a-Caption: 'Excuse me? Waiter?' - Ball Don't Lie
Frank Vogel seen as an upper-crust Fonzie.