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INDIANAPOLIS -- Even though they shot well in the first half, the Indiana Pacers knew that wasnt what would win them the game. Blair Walsh Authentic . Turning up their defence in the third quarter was what it took to pull away from the Brooklyn Nets. Paul George scored 24 points and Lance Stephenson added 23 to lead the Pacers to a 105-91 victory over on Saturday night. George Hill finished with 21 points for the Pacers, who put five players in double figures and pulled away with a third-quarter burst. "This team has a unique way of figuring a team out as the game goes on," coach Frank Vogel said. "We only forced four turnovers in the first half, so we did feel they were a little too comfortable on the defensive end." Roy Hibbert scored 11 and David West 10 for Indiana, which leads the Eastern Conference at 23-6. Stephenson also had nine rebounds and seven assists. "We felt like weve got to be aggressive, and come out with more energy," George said. "We were allowing guys to beat us on 1-on-1 plays. If we are going to get beat, its going to have to be by contested shots and the ball being swung." Paul Pierce scored 18 points, Mirza Teletovic 17, Deron Williams 14 and Alan Anderson 10 for the Nets, who fell to 10-20. "They took control of the third quarter with our turnovers, and those turnovers converting into layups," Nets coach Jason Kidd said. "George was knocking down jump shots, 3s. He had a four-point play. "But those guys, we didnt make them uncomfortable on the perimeter." Indiana, leading by three points at the start of the third quarter, went on an 11-3 run as the Nets turned the ball over on four straight possessions. That pushed the Pacers lead to 72-61 with 8:07 to go in the period, and they maintained their edge throughout. "We had to let the game come to us in the third quarter and play aggressive defence," Stephenson said. George hit a 16-foot, pull-up jumper to give the Pacers their biggest lead, 105-89, with 2:15 to play. The Pacers shot 53.5 per cent in beating the Nets for the third time this season. They outscored the Nets 14-2 in the paint in the decisive third quarter and 20-6 in the second half. Vogel credited Hill with much of his teams success, saying, "I thought George Hill was our best player tonight. He played exceptional defence on Deron Williams, and every time we needed a big basket or timely play, he made it." The Nets continue their difficult three-game road trip with games in San Antonio and Oklahoma City. The first half was close throughout, with eight lead changes and five ties. Indiana shot 54 per cent before halftime and the Nets made 50 per cent. NOTES: With three 3-pointers, George moved past Austin Croshere into seventh place in franchise history and sixth in NBA history with a total of 378 in his career. . The Nets have been outscored 86-60 in the third quarter of their three games with the Pacers this season. . The Pacers allowed just five offensive rebounds, tying their season low. Andrew Sendejo Authentic . Louis Blues return to top spot in the TSN. Greg Jennings Jersey . Sean Monahan scored two goals, including the overtime winner, as the Flames snapped a two-game losing skid with a 2-1 victory over the Oilers in a game between two of the NHLs current lesser lights. COURCHEVEL, France -- Marlies Schild joked that her younger sister would not have got any Christmas presents if she had stopped her from equalling Vreni Schneiders record for World Cup slalom wins on Tuesday. Marlies overcame her younger sister Bernadettes leading time from the first run to win her 34th slalom. The 2011 slalom world champion was third after the first run in the morning. But the elder Schild posted a second run of 53.26 seconds to clinch victory ahead of Frida Hansdotter of Sweden. Bernadette Schild was third overall, and Kathrin Zettel of Austria fourth. After Hansdotter could not match her time, it was down to Bernadette Schild -- nine years younger at 23 and seeking her first win -- to stop her sibling equalling the record. "She wouldnt have got any Christmas presents," Marlies Schild said after winning her third straight race at Courchevel, but her first since winning a slalom race at Soldeu-Grandvalira in Andorra in February 2012. "Its a very big (weight) falling off my body and my heart. Its nearly two years ago since my last victory. Everyone was asking and asking what the problem was. I wasnt feeling very good for a long time now." Canadas Marie-Michele Gagnon finished sixth to continue her hot start to the Olympic season. The 24-year-old from Lac-Etchemin, Que., cemented her reputation as a multi-discipline medal contender for the 2014 Sochi Olympics on a challenging course. "Im showing consistency. Im excited," said Gagnon, who also competes in giant slalom, super-G, super combined and sometimes downhill. "I really feel like Im in a magical moment right now. "It was not an easy one today, thats for sure. Especially with not training slalom for a long time, I just wanted to make it down so for sure Im happy." Gagnon was fifth in the slalom and 10th in the giant slalom in the opening World Cup, then added a sixth and a 10th-place finish in super-G races earlier this month. She looked poised for her first World Cup podium in giant slalom last weekend before she went out four gates from the finish. Brittany Phelan, of Mont-Tremblant, Que., was 27th on Tuesday while Elli Terwiel of Sun Peaks, B.C., didnt qualify for the second run. Erin Mielzynski of Collingwood, Ont., and Mikaela Tommy, of Wakefield, Que., were among 25 racers who didnt finish their first runs. Matching Schneiders record from 1986-95 was an extra bonus for Schild. "Lindsey (Vonn) was always saying If you make records, its the only thing you remember. I dont think thats the main thing," Marlies said. "Its just that (it means) you are a good skier when you break records. Im glad that its over now." Last season, she stopped racing in March to recover from another knee injury, but the hunger to keep going fuelled her recovery. "I lost some years because of injuries and always had the feeling that I could do moore, and thats the reason Im still here," she said. Jarius Wright Jersey. "I had back problems and knee surgery. I didnt know if I could do it again. I was thinking a lot, I was thinking too much. But now Ive got my self-confidence back." World champion Mikaela Shiffrin, who was seventh after the first run, finished 12th. She won the seasons opening slalom at Levi, Finland, last month, but it has been a miserable few days for the 18-year-old. After failing to finish Sundays giant slalom in St. Moritz, this was her lowest finish since placing 13th in GS at Maribor, Slovenia, in January, and her lowest slalom finish since 15th in Schladming, Austria, in March 2012. "I think I needed that today. I cant win everything. I dont think its good to win everything (because) then I just become complacent," she said. "So I need to know that Marlies is back. Thats the coolest thing for me because its nice to know Im not the Snow Queen." She expects fierce competition from Marlies over the next few months. "For her it wasnt even that impressive. Thats saying something. Shes an amazing skier and I kept saying that I thought she was the best slalom skier," Shiffrin said. "I dont think I own that title, I think she owns it." Tessa Worley, the Frenchwoman who won a giant slalom in St. Moritz last weekend, was taken to hospital after falling back on her skis and tearing a right knee ligament in the first run. The International Ski Federation said she will miss the rest of the season, ruling her out of the Sochi Olympics in February. Bernadette was .13 seconds faster than Hansdotter and .20 clear of her elder sister after the first run. Marlies, who took slalom bronze at the 2006 Olympics, flew down the Stade Emile Allais course on her second run -- .80 seconds faster than Zettel on the first split, .80 quicker on the second, and 1.43 quicker as she crossed the line. Bernadette was more than one second behind. Still, she earned a big hug from Marlies at the finish line for securing her second career podium result, after finishing second at Lenzerheide, Switzerland, in March. Being in the unfamiliar position of leading the race gave her some added stress. "It wasnt too easy to me. I had to breathe deeply to get my heart rate down," Bernadette said. "Its different to stand up there when youre the last one down." Worley, the giant slalom world champion, toppled backward before twisting forward and landing in the safety netting. She slowly got back up, and was taken to a hospital in Lyon. No further information was immediately available. "I feel bad for her. She was in really good shape," Marlies said. "I know what its like to have so many injuries." Anthony Sechaud, coach of the French women, said the injury likely occurred when Worley got her leg tangled up in the protective netting. ' ' ' |
