By Johnnie Clay – Pacers Insider
November 28, 2003 - 11:30 PM

After feasting on the Knicks on Thanksgiving, one would've thought the Pacers could possibly looking ahead to their Sunday showdown against the Lakers, well for the Philadelphia 76'ers and Allen Iverson, the answer was no.

Five Pacers were in double-figures as the defense smothered the always dangerous Iverson to just 12 points, as the Pacers hammered the Sixers 90-77 at Conseco Fieldhouse this evening.

The win was the Pacers eighth in row, raising their NBA best record to 14-2 for the year, but at the beginning it appeared as if the Pacers suffered from too much turkey and dressing the day before.

But a 13-0 run, pushed the Pacers into the lead...one that they would hold for the remainder of the game.

Allen Iverson struggled throughout the game, never able to find a rhythm against the relentless Pacers defense.

"We played him tough with a number of people and had heard that he (Iverson) was going to have a big game against us tonight." Al Harrington said. "We fed on that and it kept us going."

Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle shared his thoughts on Iverson and how to stop him.

"We just figured we’d throw a lot of guys at him before the night was over. But you’ve got to get a little lucky with him." Carlisle said.

The Pacers continued to put the clamps on the Sixers and Iverson, holding them to only 41% (29-71) shooting for the evening as they led 50-38 at the half.

The third and fourth quarters saw the Pacers extend their lead, sometimes as large as 18 points, while the Sixers played an endless game of catch up.

Jermaine O'Neal led the Pacers with 21 points, 6 rebounds and 6 blocked shots, while the other half of the dynamic duo, Ron Artest scored 20 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists.

Artest expressed the fun he's having this year on the court.

“I am having fun as are my teammates. When we play at the level we are playing now, it appears to be easy but it isn’t." Artest said. "We’ve got to stay on our toes all the time. We all like playing defense, moving the ball around and overall playing together."

Playing together is correct, and the Pacers are going to need to be "together" even more the next few weeks. Next for the Pacers is a road trip that could be the barometer for the rest of the season. Carlisle knows it's going to be tough.

We’ve got to take this momentum out west because they’re all tough games. It certainly will be a gauge for us, not to take away from what we’ve done so far." Carlisle said. "Good starts are great but being able to sustain it is important. It’s a very, very difficult trip.”

Pacers center Jeff Foster, who scored 13 points tonight knows they must maintain their composure and focus on this Western road trip.

"We’ve got to take this momentum out west because they’re all tough games." Foster said. "It certainly will be a gauge for us, not to take away from what we’ve done so far. Good starts are great but being able to sustain it is important. It’s a very, very difficult trip.”

The "trip" begins on Sunday night against the Los Angeles Lakers, with the second best record in the NBA. It's the "best against the best", time to see who will still be standing at the end come early Monday morning.
Gametime Sunday is at 9:30 pm (EST)