INDIANAPOLIS, April 24 (UPI) -- Paul George had 27 points and eight rebounds Wednesday, helping the Indiana Pacers beat Atlanta 113-98 and take a 2-0 lead in the conference quarterfinals.
George's big show came after his triple-double in Game 1. The Pacers outscored the Hawks in every quarter and took command in a series that will move to Atlanta for Game 3 Saturday.
George was named this week as the NBA's most improved player of the season and he backed up that honor by scoring 23 points to go with 11 rebounds and 12 assists in Indiana's win to open the series.
George Hill made 7-of-12 from the field and scored 22 points for the Pacers, while both Gerald Green and Roy Hibbert added 15.
Atlanta was led by Devin Harris with 17 points.
The Hawks outshot Indiana 49 percent to 47 percent, but went to the foul line 10 fewer times than the Pacers did and converted 11 fewer attempts.
