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The Indiana Pacers arrived in Indy last night after the long commute home from Taipei where they lost to the Houston Rockets in preseason action on Sunday. George Hill suffered a mild sprained ankle which isn't expected to slow him down as the Pacers continue working toward the regular season opener on October 29th.
Luis Scola took the night off in Taipei to gather some preseason rest and also give others a look. According to Frank Vogel, the coach wanted to see more minutes from Chris Copeland and Ian Mahinmi in the regular playing rotation. Copeland made just two of eight three-pointers as he continues hunting for his stroke behind the arc in his new surroundings.
In a search for positives, the Pacers effort to cut Houston's 15-point halftime lead to three in the third quarter should suffice. Vogel caught himself referring to the positive of the "starters" mounting the comeback, correcting to say the group that started the third quarter. Danny Granger started the third for Lance Stephenson. Granger knocked down two of his three three-pointers for the game during that stretch in the third quarter and for the first time looked ready to play a starting role.
Granger's role in the playing rotation remains a lead storyline during preseason. But for now, I'm sure the team is happy to be home and ready to get back in the lab at the Fieldhouse where they will host the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday evening.
Sometimes you have to travel over 12,000 miles to remember where home really is. pic.twitter.com/uM4aoNuc22
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) October 14, 2013
Check out the links:
Game Rewind: Pacers 98, Rockets 107 | THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE INDIANA PACERS
Indiana Pacers vs. Houston Rockets - AP
Pacers land IEDC as court sponsor | 2013-10-12 | Indianapolis Business Journal | IBJ.com
Greg Oden of Miami Heat likely to be cleared for full practice, sources say - ESPN
Derrick Rose to sit out Bulls’ preseason game in Brazil due to knee soreness | ProBasketballTalk
Green helps Suns beat Spurs - AP
Danny Granger, Metta World Peace among Eastern Conference X-factors | The Point Forward - SI.com
Carmelo Anthony: I took a ‘huge risk’ by not having surgery | SI Wire