INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Pacers changed lineups, moved the ball and forced turnovers.
By doing all that differently, they looked like a different team.
George Hill and Ian Mahinmi each scored 22 points, Paul George added 19 and the Pacers bounced back from an embarrassing home loss two days earlier to rout the Toronto Raptors 100-83 on Saturday and even the first-round playoff series at 2-2.
"This is how I wanted us to respond to the Game 3 loss," George said. "I thought we were very attentive and focused on evening this series up."
The turnaround from 48 hours earlier was remarkable.
Indiana found the passion and energy it was missing Thursday, defended aggressively and won the rebounding battle for the first time in the best-of-seven series (see full recap).
Hornets snap 14-year playoff drought, beat Heat
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- After the Charlotte Hornets dropped the first two games of their first-round series against the Miami Heat, team owner Michael Jordan and assistant coach Patrick Ewing approached coach Steve Clifford with a suggestion: Post up rookie 7-footer Frank Kaminsky more.
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"When you have two first-ballot Hall of Famers. ... and they both say, `Post Frank,'" Clifford joked, "you have to post Frank."
The strategy worked.
Jeremy Lin had 18 points, while Kaminsky scored nine of his 15 points during an 18-0 run in the third quarter that broke open a tie game as the Hornets beat the Heat 96-80 on Saturday night to snap a 12-game playoff losing streak and earn their first postseason victory in 14 years.
The Heat lead the series 2-1, with Game 4 set for Monday night (see full recap).
Thunder beat Mavericks for 3-1 lead in testy series
DALLAS -- Russell Westbrook had 25 points and 15 assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Dallas Mavericks 119-108 on Saturday night, taking a commanding 3-1 lead in a testy first-round series that got quite a bit testier.
Enes Kanter had his second straight playoff career high with 28 points on 12-of-13 shooting for the Thunder, who never trailed in two games in Dallas after the Mavericks evened the series with a one-point win in Oklahoma City following a 38-point loss in the opener.
Kevin Durant scored 19 points before he was ejected in the final minute for a flagrant foul on Dallas' Justin Anderson. It was the last of several tense moments, and Dallas team security had to make sure Durant didn't leave the court in front of the Mavericks bench.
Dirk Nowitzki had 27 points and eight rebounds for the Mavericks, who haven't won a playoff series since winning the 2011 NBA title (see full recap).
