Hoosier Shines In First Start For Pacers

April 9

   Indianapolis native George Hill took full advantage of his first career start with the Indiana Pacers Monday night leading the team to its fourth win in five games. George Hill who is in his third NBA season out of IUPUI was traded this off season from the San Antonio Spurs to the Indiana Pacers for the draft rights to Kawhi Leonard.

     With Darren Collison out due to a groin injury Hill was plugged into the starting lineup Monday night as the Pacers were hosting the Toronto Raptors. Hill would take full advantage of this opportunity as he would lead the team in scoring, rebounds, and assists as the Pacers would hold on to win 103-98. Hill finished the game with 18 points, shooting a perfect seven of seven from the free throw line and had 7 rebounds with four assists.

   The Pacers would take a 14 point lead into halftime and a 15 point lead heading into the fourth quarter but the Raptors kept fighting back. The Raptors would just fall short of the comeback riding Linas Kleiza's 18 point fourth quarter. Danny Granger and Paul George also put up big points for the Pacers scoring 18 and 15 respectively.

  Leandro Barbosa who was traded to the Pacers from the Raptors on March 15 put up 14 points in the second half against his former team.