NBA: Bynum makes Pacers debut as team sweeps season series versus Celtics

INDIANAPOLIS - Forward David West scored a game-high 24 points to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 94-83 win over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night (Wednesday, PHL time) and halt the Pacers' season-worst losing streak.

#PacersWin! #PacersWin! Final score: Pacers 94, Celtics 83 Led by David West's 24 points, Indiana completes the series sweep with Boston.

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) March 12, 2014

Pacers forward Paul George and guard George Hill each added 12 points for the Pacers (47-17), who avoided their first five-game losing streak in more than two years.

Forward Jared Sullinger led Boston (22-42) with 17 points. Center Kris Humphries added 15 points as the Celtics lost for the first time in three games.

Indiana 7’0” center Andrew Bynum made his Pacers debut and packed a punch from the start. He replaced starting center Roy Hibbert with 4:21 left in the first quarter and within a minute produced a roar from the crowd by delivering a dunk after a pass from guard-forward Evan Turner.

Bynum, who was acquired as a free agent on February 1 (Feb. 2, PHL time), had a basket, rebound and assist in a 10-2 run that gave Indiana a six-point lead. He finished with eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

Bynum, a member of the 2009 and 2010 Los Angeles Lakers' championship teams, began the season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was traded to the Chicago Bulls on January 7, then was cut the next day. Since joining the Pacers, he has been rehabbing his injured knees.

Pacers guard Lance Stephenson, who had scored just one basket in more than three quarters, helped Indiana put this one away. After the Celtics pulled to within one point in the fourth quarter, Stephenson scored three baskets in less than three minutes. His hot hand fueled an 11-4 Indiana run that put the Pacers up 88-80 with 2:22 remaining.

The Pacers, who lead the NBA in team defense but had struggled in that area through their season-worst four-game losing streak, got back to playing strong defensively against the Celtics. They allowed just 40 points in the first half and held the Celtics to 35 percent shooting from the field in the game. - Reuters


The scores:

PACERS 94 - West 24, George 12, Hill 12, Stephenson 9, Turner 9, Bynum 8, Hibbert 6, Sloan 3, Butler 0, Copeland 0

CELTICS 83 - Sullinger 17, Humphries 15, Johnson 14, Green 12, Bass 11, Rondo 8, Bayless 3, Olynyk 3, Pressey 0, Babb 0, Anthony 0

Indiana       24-25-20-25
Boston        20-20-21-22