Pacers dump Sixers

Kareem Rush dropped in a season-high 25 points as Indiana bested Philadelphia, 110-103, at the Wachovia Center.

Mike Dunleavy added 24 points for the Pacers, who were 14-of-25 from three- point range in the contest and won for just the fourth time in 14 games. Danny Granger chipped in with 18 points.

Andre Iguodala had 23 points but was just 5-of-16 from the floor and was continuously victimized at the defensive end for the Sixers, who have lost nine of their last 11 games. Andre Miller finished with 21 points and rookie Thaddeus Young donated 13 points and seven boards off the bench.

The Pacers entered the fourth quarter with an 11-point advantage but the Sixers managed to cut the lead to six points, 100-94, on Miller's running jumper with 5:58 left.

Philadelphia went cold on the offensive end from there and couldn't convert another field goal until an Iguodala conventional three-point play made it 106-100 with 2:01 remaining.

A minute later, Iguodala had a chance to make it a one-possession game but didn't draw iron on a wide open look from beyond-the-arc. Rush then sealed the game at the other end with a reverse lay-in.

The Pacers took advantage of the Sixers' poor perimeter defense to race out to a 32-19 lead in the opening quarter. Indiana was 5-for-7 from beyond-the-arc in the frame and took particular advantage on Iguodala, who failed to close out on his defensive assignments time and time again.
The Sixers awoke in the second quarter and used a 16-0 run to get right back in the game.

Young fueled the burst with his energy and athleticism and Lou Williams finished it with a layup to give Philadelphia a 37-35 edge.

The Pacers recovered from there, however, and Dunleavy drained a three at the buzzer to give Indiana a 63-49 lead at intermission.

The back-and-fourth action continued in the third quarter. The Sixers closed to within three, 79-76, when Miller converted a driving layup with under three minutes to go in the frame. But, the Pacers answered with the long ball again. Travis Diener and Shawne Williams drained consecutive threes and Indiana led 90-79 heading to the final frame.