Victor Oladipo scored 21 points and Darren Collison added 19 points and nine assists Sunday, leading the Indiana Pacers past Charlotte 120-95.
Indiana has won four of five and improved to 16 games over .500 for the first time since the end of 2013-14.
Kemba Walker had 23 points to lead the Hornets, who had a three-game winning streak snapped. Malik Monk finished with 11 points off the bench for Charlotte, which never led after Collison's 3-pointer midway through the first quarter.
Charlotte Hornets forward Marvin Williams (2) goes up for a shot over Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019. (AP PhotoMichael Conroy)
It didn't take Indiana long to start pulling away.
The Pacers jumped to a 32-16 lead late in the first quarter, and then answered a 12-2 Charlotte spurt, which cut the deficit to 34-28, by rebuilding a 45-32 lead. Indiana extended the margin to 17 and led 56-41 at halftime.
In the second half, the Pacers repeatedly fended off Charlotte.
Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo (4) shoots over Charlotte Hornets center Willy Hernangomez (41) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019. (AP PhotoMichael Conroy)
The Hornets got as close as 77-71 when Miles Bridges made his second straight 3 late in the third, but the Pacers scored six straight to close out the quarter and sealed the victory with a 7-0 spurt to make it 99-81 with 6:46 to go.
TIP-INS
Hornets: Bismack Biyombo and Jeremy Lamb each had 10 points. Biyombo also had 12 rebounds. ... Walker was called for a technical foul with 1:08 left in the first quarter. ... Walker and Jeremy Lamb scored 14 of Charlotte's first 16 points. ... Former Indiana University star Cody Zeller did not play because an injured right hand. ... The Hornets were 12 of 35 on 3s.
Indiana Pacers forward T.J. Leaf (22) blocks the shot of Charlotte Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019. (AP PhotoMichael Conroy)
Pacers: Myles Turner had nine points, all on 3s, 16 rebounds and three blocks. ... Bojan Bogdanovic and Domantas Sabonis each scored 16. ... Nate McMillan earned his 121st victory as the Pacers' coach, tying Jim O'Brien for ninth on the franchise's NBA victories list. ... Indiana honored the late Jimmy Rayl with a moment of silence before the game. Rayl was a two-time All-American at Indiana University and was the state's 1959 Mr. Basketball Award winner. School officials announced Rayl died Sunday at age 77.
UP NEXT
Hornets: Visit Memphis, where they have won three straight, on Wednesday.
Pacers: Will try to avoid a three-game season sweep when Toronto visits Wednesday.
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