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NBA : Pacers upend Sonics

The Chicago Bulls veterans have made sure rookie Joakim Noah knows his place. Associated Press (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
From Wire Reports The Spokesman-Review
The Chicago Bulls veterans have made sure rookie Joakim Noah knows his place. Associated Press (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

Travis Diener scored 15 points and Jermaine O’Neal added 14 to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 97-87 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics in an exhibition game Saturday night at Indianapolis.

Mike Dunleavy had 14 points, Danny Granger scored 12 and Troy Murphy grabbed 12 rebounds for the Pacers, who improved to 2-0 this preseason under new coach Jim O’Brien.

Seattle rookie Kevin Durant, the second overall pick in the NBA draft, had 21 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the field. Rookie Jeff Green, the fifth pick in the draft, scored 14.

The SuperSonics (1-2), who trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half, got within 78-73 early in the fourth quarter following consecutive baskets by Mouhamed Sene.

Indiana used an 8-0 run to extend its lead to 90-77 with 5 minutes left. Diener, who started in place of injured guard Jamaal Tinsley, hit two straight jumpers during the spurt.

In the first quarter, Durant’s 3-pointer and Green’s layup gave the Sonics a 20-15 advantage. The Pacers answered with a 10-0 run, which was capped by Granger’s 3-pointer, to jump ahead by five points.

Around the league

Enough, Jerry Sloan said, with the term “shooting guard.” The Jazz coach wants and expects more, especially from a team that hasn’t gotten much consistency at the position since Jeff Hornacek `s 2000 departure. “Shooting guard?” Sloan said. “We’re trying to find a guard that’s a making guard.” … If LeBron James became public enemy No. 1 in Cleveland by rooting for his beloved Yankees against the Indians in the first round of the American League playoffs, Celtics forward James Posey faces similar inspection in Boston as he roots for the Indians in the ALCS against the Red Sox. Posey was raised near Cleveland and wore an Indians cap throughout the Celtics’ just-concluded European trip. If only because of his low profile, Posey figures he’ll be able to survive the coming days because, “I’m not LeBron James.” … Former Florida Gators forward Joakim Noah has not had the easiest of rookie orientations in Chicago. As a goof, teammates arranged for the jersey for his exhibition debut to be spelled: N-O-H-A (it was swapped out for a correct version before he took to the court). Before that, the first-round pick was chastised by teammates and stripped of his per diem for delivering Dunkin’ Donuts instead of the preferred Krispy Kremes. Through it all, Noah has a shot at leapfrogging inconsistent Tyrus Thomas as the opening-night starter at power forward.