INDIANAPOLIS -- Lance Stephenson savors each opportunity he gets to beat up on his hometown teams -- especially when the Pacers are winning. On Thursday night, Indianas flamboyant guard had a big night on national television. Stephenson had a career-high 28 points, four rebounds and four assists and led the Pacers to their second-most lopsided win of the season, 117-89 over the Knicks. "If hes flashy, hes being flashy making basketball coach," coach Frank Vogel said. "One of our assistants said, Boy, I wish I had Lances energy every day. His competitive spirit is as high as anyone weve coached." Stephenson has been playing this way all season. He leads the NBA with three triple-doubles, the most of any Pacers player since Detlef Schrempf in 1992-93. With any luck, hed have a couple of more, too. And after a nasty crossover or spectacular move to the basket, he might show off some of that New York flair by wiggling his hips. But the Nets and Knicks seem to bring out the best in the Brooklyn native. This time, on a night that may serve as an audition for the All-Star selectors, he showed the whole basketball world what he could do. Stephenson went 10 of 17 from the field, 5 of 5 from the free-throw line, 3 of 7 on 3-pointers and had no turnovers in 28 minutes. His previous scoring high (26) came Dec. 23 in a 103-86 win at Brooklyn, and before this season, Stephenson had scored 22 points just two times -- once against Chicago in April 2012; the other, of course, came at Madison Square Garden last spring. Even a former Indiana University basketball star like Mike Woodson, who was drilled in defence under Bob Knight, came away impressed. "Youve really got to tip your hat to him," the Knicks coach said. "We had no answers for him." That has been a league-wide problem for Pacers foes, and not just against Stephenson. Indiana won its third straight to maintain its grip on the NBAs best record, extend its Eastern Conference lead over Miami to four games and continue its claim to the leagues best home record, 20-1. The Pacers arent slowing down, either. They beat Washington by 27 on Friday, Sacramento by 24 on Tuesday and handed what was one of the leagues hottest teams its most embarrassing road loss of the season. For the most part, Indiana has relied on its staunch defence. Stephenson and Paul George have suddenly given Indiana a devastating offensive punch, too. George added 25 points and seven rebounds on a night six players scored in double figures. The Pacers produced season highs for total points and points in a half (63) for the second straight game, and they even heeded the advice of team president Larry Bird, by cutting down their turnovers to a season-low five. "We have set a goal, and we want to be the No. 1 seed (in the East)," Stephenson said. "Every night I try to bring something to the table." The Knicks just couldnt keep up. Carmelo Anthony finished with 28 points, nine in the first six minutes and 18 in the first quarter when it was still a game. Tyson Chandler had 13 points and nine rebounds, while Raymond Felton and J.R. Smith each had 12. Smith played nearly 28 minutes after being benched in two of the Knicks previous four games. "Theyre a good team, but I dont think theyre 30 points better than our team," Woodson said after the rematch of last springs conference semifinals, which Indiana also won. "We were awful." Things started well for New York as Anthony pushed them to a 16-8 lead. But the Pacers rallied with an 11-2 run to take a 28-26 lead. Anthony bailed out the Knicks with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to make it 31-30 after one. Indiana seized control with an 11-1 spurt midway through the second quarter and pulled away late in the first half with a 16-7 run. That made it 63-48 at halftime. George opened the second half by scoring 10 points in a 15-8 spurt, which made it 78-56, and Stephenson closed it out as the Knicks couldnt get closer than 16 the rest of the way. "We understand how good we are when we run," George said. "I think thats the best way to put and the biggest way to look at it." NOTES: Kenyon Martin left in the second quarter and Amare Stoudemire followed him to the locker room in the third quarter. Both had sprained left ankles and did not return. ... Former Pacers All-Star Metta World Peace was inactive in New Yorks only regular-season game in Indianapolis. ... Fans chanted "Reg-gie, Reg-gie" when former Pacers star turned TV analyst Reggie Miller was shown on the overhead screen during the fourth quarter. ... Indiana has won four straight home games against the Knicks. Tarvarius Moore 49ers Jersey . - For a general manager who preaches building through the draft, Reggie McKenzie has struggled to find impact players his first two years in Oakland. Jimmie Ward Jersey . Giants manager Bruce Bochy told The Associated Press of the decision before NL West-leading San Francisco opened a 10-game homestand Monday night with the first of three games against second-place Arizona. http://www.49ersfanaticproshop.com/westo...g-49ers-jersey/. - Bryan Price sat down in the cushy chair. Jeff Locke 49ers Jersey .com) - The Calgary Flames are spoilers once again. Fred Warner Jersey . Ryan Callahan trade talks caught a lot of people off guard. Details are now emerging about why the Rangers would consider such a move. Darren Dreger: He wants a lot of money. Its been widely reported that Callahan is looking for a seven-year term around $6 million per year. That is not accurate. Im told that it is more than $6.The Edmonton Oilers have another top-10 draft pick and with that comes another chance to build around its young core. The Oilers have the third selection in Friday nights first round, a year after taking Darnell Nurse seventh and two years removed from a streak of three consecutive No. 1 picks. But even with forwards Nail Yakupov (2012), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2011), Taylor Hall (2010) and Jordan Eberle (23rd in 2008) in the fold, Edmonton isnt in a position to be position specific. "Youre just trying to get the best available player you can," head amateur scout Stu MacGregor said in a phone interview. "And if you end up with too many of one kind of player, it would then be up to management to trade whichever asset you have to attain something else at a different position." General manager Craig MacTavish has made no secret of his desire to acquire a puck-moving defenceman this off-season, which isnt exactly a unique need in todays NHL. The No. 3 pick isnt likely the place do that, unless it becomes a trade chip. The Oilers hosted defenceman Aaron Ekblad, centres Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart and multi-purpose forward Leon Draisaitl recently, MacTavish said in a radio appearance on AM-630 in Edmonton. Two of those players are sure to be available third overall, though Ekblad — a pro-ready two-way defenceman — is considered the likely No. 1 pick to Florida or whichever team trades for it. With Hall and Eberle taking up top-six wing spots, there could be room for Bennett or Reinhart, perhaps even right away, behind Nugent-Hopkins. MacTavish wants to fill in his top three lines so that grinders like Matt Hendricks and Boyd Gordon can slide down the lineup. NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr said during the scouting combine that he sees this draft as being full of players to stock the bottom half of teams rosters.dddddddddddd The top-end talent is limited, but Marr thinks there are plenty of prospects with long-term staying power as role players. At No. 3, or if they move down slightly, the Oilers should be able to get a difference-maker. While not as good as the "incredible" 2013 crop, MacGregor thinks the top 10 players available are strong. After the first round, things get murky for the Oilers. They dont have a second-round pick — sent to the St. Louis Blues last year for winger David Perron — or a third-round pick — sent to the Los Angeles Kings in January for goaltender Ben Scrivens. MacTavish said on AM-630 that hes not in a position to trade assets to get draft picks, certainly not after dealing some away for more immediate help. With two fourth- and two fifth-rounders, Edmonton can continue to stock the cupboard, although the team hasnt unearthed a full-time NHL player beyond the third round in a decade. Unrestricted free agency will likely go a longer way toward determining the Oilers 2014-15 roster than this draft, and the chances the team has of reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2006 when it went to the Stanley Cup final. MacTavish said the Oilers will chase some of the bigger names available but are more specifically looking for secondary help behind the primary pieces already in place. As trade talk heats up — MacTavish said hed had "some fairly intriguing conversations" about moving up and down from the third pick — the Oilers are in position to add salary. MacTavish hopes they can give up less by doing that and improve in the immediate future. --- Follow @SWhyno on Twitter Cheap Jerseys Store Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Camo China NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Store Cheap Authentic Jerseys Youth NFL Jerseys Cheap ' ' '
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