Dunleavy's tip-in gives Pacers win over Hornets

INDIANAPOLIS – Mike Dunleavy's tip-in at the buzzer gave the Indiana Pacers a 94-93 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Monday night.

The Hornets had taken the lead on a jumper by David West with 3.9 seconds left. Indiana's Danny Granger's long shot rattled around the rim, and Dunleavy was uncontested for the rebound under the hoop. The officials reviewed the play and the basket stood.

Granger led the Pacers with 27 points. Darren Collison scored 18 points and James Posey added 15 in their first game against the team that traded them in the offseason.

Emeka Okafor had 19 points and 15 rebounds for the Hornets, who lost their sixth straight road game. West scored 18 points and Chris Paul added 15.

Paul missed a jumper as time expired on the shot clock in the final minute, but West scored on a putback and was fouled with 30 seconds left. He made the free throw to put New Orleans up 91-89.

Indiana responded with a 3-pointer by Posey to take a 92-91 lead with 16 seconds left.

Paul drove on T.J. Ford and found West near the free throw line, where he made a jumper with 3.9 seconds left to give the Hornets a 93-92 lead before Dunleavy's game winner.

Indiana led by as many as 13 points late in the first half before the Hornets rallied to cut their deficit to six points. Collison found Posey beyond the left elbow, and Posey drained a 3-pointer to give Indiana a 52-43 lead at the break. The Pacers made 6-of-12 3-pointers in the first half.

New Orleans inched closer early in the third quarter. Paul hesitated, then drained a 3-pointer that cut Indiana's lead to 62-61 and caused the Pacers to call a timeout. The Hornets finally took the lead on a pair of free throws by Paul with 31 seconds left in the period.

Collison began to take control midway through the fourth quarter. He made a jumper to give Indiana an 81-77 lead. A short time later, he got a steal, then assisted on a dunk by Granger. On the other end, Collison's rebound ignited a fast break that eventually led to a dunk by Roy Hibbert that gave Indiana an 85-79 lead.

New Orleans came right back with a run that included a 3-pointer by Jarrett Jack. A pair of free throws by West gave New Orleans an 86-85 lead, and neither team led by more than two points the rest of the way.

NOTES: New Orleans guard Willie Green missed the game for personal reasons. His sister and cousin were killed in an automobile accident after Sunday's game in Detroit. The Pacers held a moment of silence before the game. ... Pacers C Jeff Foster made his second consecutive start at power forward. Regular starter Josh McRoberts has been dealing with a lower abdominal strain.