INDIANAPOLIS -- The Pacers responded to Friday nights challenge like a champion. After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. Paul George finished with 24 points and nine rebounds, Lance Stephenson added 16 points and six assists, and the defence completely shut down Houston in a 114-81 rout. "This team doesnt like losing," coach Frank Vogel said. "We talked about playing mad for four quarters." By following Vogels plan, the Pacers continued to add to an already strong resume. While some try to discount Indianas quick start because theyre playing in the struggling Eastern Conference, the Pacers still have a firm grip on the conferences best record (21-5) and have already beaten three of the Western Conferences top teams -- the Clippers, Spurs and now the Rockets. The way Indiana has been winning is just as impressive. Despite taking Dwight Howards best shot Friday -- Houstons centre had 19 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks -- Indiana still managed to manhandle the usually potent Rockets offence. Houston (17-10) entered the game second in scoring average and third in field goal percentage. It left Indianapolis having shot 38.1 per cent in the game, compiling a season-low in points and losing to Indiana for the fourth straight time. Even James Harden, the leagues No. 6 scorer, couldnt get started. He was just 3 of 14 from the field and scored only 12 points, primarily against George. It was a disturbing twist for Houston, which had won three of its previous five, had beaten Chicago by 25 points on Wednesday and was trying to keep pace with division-leading San Antonio. Heck, it couldnt even figure out how to beat the Pacers stout defence. "We had no answers for them. They played way better than we did," coach Kevin McHale said. "We werent moving, we werent attacking, they had us on our heels all night." But Indiana also had something else -- motivation. The Pacers were determined to make someone pay for this weeks earlier stumbles, and they didnt care much about who showed up Friday. Not only did the Pacers finish with a season high 12 3-pointers, but they also had a season high point total, their largest victory margin (33) of the season and their second best field goal percentage of the season (53.1). Six players scored in double figures and they did all that on a night Roy Hibbert finished with nine points, six rebounds and one block. How did they do it? The same way the Pacers usually win -- with a balanced and a relentless defence. "Its a good feeling because when were at our best, we feel like were unstoppable," George said. "It was good to come out and play with high energy against a high-energy team." The Rockets never had a chance on a celebratory night for the Pacers. Indiana fans gave former All-Star Danny Granger a standing ovation when he made his season debut in the first quarter and chanted his name when he finally made his first basket, a 3-pointer, early in the fourth. Granger missed all but five games last season because of a left knee injury and he was sidelined all of this season by a strained left calf. If he is healthy, and he looked rusty on offence in his first game back, he would give the Pacers even more scoring punch as they try to dethrone two-time defending champion Miami. But by the time Granger made his entrance, Indiana was already taking control. Indiana went ahead 12-11 early in the first and spent the rest of the night pulling away. It led 25-20 after one, made it 41-29 early in the second and then fended off Houstons only real challenge, a 10-0 run that made it 41-39, by closing the half on a 17-6 burst to make it 56-45. Indiana quickly made it 64-49 in the third, sealed the game with a 17-4 spurt. "They played harder than we did," Howard said. "They brought a lot of extra energy at the beginning of the third quarter and thats what set us apart." And before it ended, the Pacers led by as many as 36. "We always say that good teams will bounce back," said George Hill, who had 12 points. "That showed were a good team." NOTES: Reserve Luis Scola finished with 13 points and made his first 3-pointer since joining the Pacers during the off-season. ... Houston played without guard Jeremy Lin (back) and Omar Asik (thigh). Asik, who has been the subject of trade rumours, did not make the trip. ... The Rockets were just 13 of 24 from the free throw line. Alex Iwobi Jersey . - Considering where Jeff Gordon was after Richmond, left out of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship in part due to some late-race shenanigans, he couldnt have been happier on Sunday. Lucas Torreira Jersey . Anderson shook off some unusually poor shooting and hit two clutch 3-pointers in overtime that carried the New Orleans Pelicans to a 111-106 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night. http://www.footballarsenalstore.com/Women-Carl-Jenkinson-Arsenal-Fc-Jersey/ . Stevenson scored the first three goals of the game in the first period for Regina (35-22-6), which has won eight of its last 10 games. Patrick DAmico added two for the Pats, Braden Christoffer had a single and Morgan Klimchuk chipped in a goal and four assists. Sead Kolasinac Arsenal Jersey .com) - Carmelo Anthony scored 31 points with eight rebounds to lead the New York Knicks to a 92-80 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Sead Kolasinac Jersey . Millsap will miss Wednesday nights game against the Chicago Bulls. The Hawks say Millsap also will be held out on Thursday at Boston.CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The International Champions Cup final wont feel like a friendly game to Liverpool coach Brendan Rodgers. Thats no surprise, considering that Liverpool will face English Premier League rival Manchester United in Miami on Monday night. Liverpool beat AC Milan 2-0 on Saturday night to reach the final in the eight-team tournament. Joe Allen and Suso scored to help Liverpool finish 3-0 in group play. Manchester United topped Real Madrid 3-1 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to win its group at 3-0. "I dont think many of our games are (friendly)," Rodgers said. "Youve seen this in other games, and Manchester has certainly been competitive. Theyve got top players, and to top players, every game is a competition. Theres never too many friendlies. Obviously, Mondays game will be equally competitive." Liverpool and Manchester United have a combined 121 titles in domestic and European competition, including 38 Premier League and eight European Cup titles. "Its more than football -- its life," Rodgers said. "Its two cities that arent very far apart, and historically theyve always been huge rivals. Its probably the biggest game in the world, and for it to be here in the United States iss going to be great.dddddddddddd Theyre two of the biggest clubs in Britain. Theyre two of the biggest clubs in the world." However, to set up a match between the long-time rivals, Liverpool had to get past AC Milan, which finished 0-3 in group play but could have denied Liverpool a spot in the final with a win. Allen put Liverpool ahead in the 17th minute with his first goal of the tournament, scoring off a deflected save by goalkeeper Christian Abbaiti. Allen had a clear shot at the goal from 20 yards out, but it bounced off the left post. Raheem Sterling collared the rebound 6 yards out, only to have Abbiata make a diving save. But the deflection went right to Allen, who punched it into the right side of the goal from 8 yards. Suso, who entered the game at the 60th minute, added an insurance goal at the 90th minute, putting his open look from just outside the penalty box into the right side of the net past goalkeeper Gabriel. "It looked like every time they took a shot, they scored a goal," AC Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi said through a translator. "We have to be able to do better in the next games. We have another month of practice, so we should be able to get much better." ' ' '