Pacers’ buzzer-beating tip clips Hornets

INDIANAPOLIS — After an uncharacteristic 1-6 start, the Indiana Pacers are finding ways to win, rallying for their fourth victory in the past five games on Wednesday night.

Solomon Hill’s tip-in of a Rodney Stuckey miss at the buzzer gave the Pacers an 88-86 victory over the Charlotte Hornets in Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

“We were told to just get the last shot, make sure there was no chance they could get a rebound and throw one up,” said Hill, who scored only six points. “Once I knew Stuckey was taking it, I just wanted to get as close as possible to the rim and have a chance to tip it in.

“Usually in a situation like that, everybody is kind of ball watching. It’s the last shot of the game and the potential game-winner.”

Indiana, which outrebounded the Hornets 51-41, including 34-20 during the final 24 minutes, spoiled the return to Indianapolis for former Pacers guard Lance Stephenson, who signed a free-agent contract with Charlotte in the summer.

Stephenson finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and seven assists but made only 4 of 12 shots from the field.

“Tonight was emotional,” Stephenson said. “Seeing me old teammates and the fans … I just wish we could have gotten the W.”

After a Charlotte miss by Marvin Williams with 18 seconds to play, the Pacers called a

timeout, setting up a play in which Stuckey tried to win it with a jumper, but Hill’s offensive rebound provided the winner.

“We wanted to be sure we got the last shot, and we did,” said Stuckey, who had 11 points coming off the bench. Indiana won despite making a season-low two 3-pointers, shooting a season-worst 13.3 percent from beyond the arc (2 of 15).

The Pacers posted their 10th consecutive victory over Charlotte in Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Indiana (5-7) got 18 points and 11 rebounds from center Roy Hibbert.

Charlotte (4-8) got a game-best 28 points from Al Jefferson.

“What I was proud of in a game like this, we were shooting horribly, but we found a way to do other things and found a way to win,” Indiana coach Frank Vogel said. “On that last play, we wanted to get the ball to our best isolation player and then make sure not to leave any time on the clock.

“We are starting to build confidence. We are kind of building this on young guys playing through mistakes.”

A three-point play by forward Luis Scola with 1:28 remaining tied it at 86 after a 3-pointer from guard Kemba Walker gave Charlotte an 86-83 lead with 2:13 to go.

Center Ian Mahimi’s three-point play with 9:09 left gave the Pacers a 73-71 lead with 9:09 to go. Guard A.J. Price followed with a field goal on the next possession and Indiana led by four. A layup by Stuckey, a guard who scored 11 points, with 7:07 remaining extended the lead to 77-71.

Charlotte countered with field goals from Jefferson and forward Jason Maxiell, pulling the Hornets within 77-75 with 6:01 to play.

Each team struggled to find any offensive rhythm early in the third quarter, but Charlotte led 55-49 with 6:34 left. Indiana took 61-59 and 63-61 leads late in the third quarter, but a 3-pointer from forward Marvin Williams and a Jefferson basket allowed the Hornets to enter the fourth quarter with a 66-65 lead.

Indiana outscored the Hornets 22-17 during the third quarter.

The Pacers outrebounded the Hornets 51-41. Both teams shot below 45 percent from the field, but Charlotte hit 5 of 14 3-point attempts compared to Indiana’s

2-of-15 success rate from long distance.

“We fought hard, but if you look at it, the difference in the game was their offensive rebounding,” Charlotte coach Steve Clifford said. “We have to have everybody hitting, and if we are not, we have to be physical, or we are not going to win these games.”

NOTES: Each team continues to be hampered by early season injuries. Indiana played again without F David West (sprained right ankle), G George Hill (bruised left knee), G/F C.J. Miles (sore right calf), G C.J. Watson (sprained right foot) and F Paul George (broken tibia/fibula). … Charlotte was without F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (right foot stress fracture), G Gary Neal (concussion) and G/F Jeff Taylor (24-game suspension for domestic

violence). … The game was a homecoming of sorts for Charlotte Fs Cody Zeller and Noah Vonleh, each of whom played for Indiana University. … The Pacers went 2-1 against the Hornets last season.