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. Mike Scott Jersey . -- Wes Welker is unlikely to suit up for Denvers game Thursday against San Diego after leaving Sundays win over Tennessee with his second concussion in four games. Aledmys Diaz Jersey . -- Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run homer, Colby Rasmus drove in two runs and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Detroit Tigers 9-4 on Saturday. http://www.baseballastrosproshop.com/geo...ros-jersey/.com) - The NFL is investigating whether the New England Patriots intentionally deflated balls during Sundays AFC Championship Game against Indianapolis. Josh Reddick Astros Jersey . The move will give Hentgen the "time needed to support his family and his fathers current health issues," the Blue Jays said in a release. Hentgen spent 10 of his 14 big-league seasons with the Blue Jays, winning a Cy Young Award in 1996. Andy Pettitte Jersey . Head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed on Sunday that his starting goalie has a head injury and the team will take it day by day.SEATTLE - Before Cesar Ramos took the mound, Joe Maddon raved about how the left-hander had made the transition from reliever to starter and pitched well with Tampa Bays pitching staff thinned by injuries. Then Ramos got battered for three innings by Seattles bats and got no help from a shaky defensive night by the Rays. Ramos was knocked around early by the Mariners in their 12-5 win over the Rays that included video reviews on consecutive batters in the first inning and Seattle ace Felix Hernandez getting ejected in the seventh inning. "We got ambushed. We just sashayed into the canyon and they were firing from both sides," Maddon said. Ramos had allowed only nine total runs and 18 hits all season. By the end of the third inning, hed given up 11 hits and nine runs — although only five of those were earned because of four errors in the first two innings by Tampa Bays defence. The Rays committed three errors in the second inning, tying a franchise record. It was a difficult opening to a West Coast road trip for Maddons crew. "They came out aggressive and I took too long to adjust," Ramos said. "I started pitching backward later and started having more success." Even though Ramos got battered, he settled down and helped save Tampa Bays bullpen by getting through 6 2-3 innings. He didnt allow a hit after the third, retiring the final 12 batters he faced. He set career bests for innings pitched and pitches (114) although few will look beyond the rough beginning. "I appreciate him even more for what he did after the bad start," Maddon said. "A lot of guys would not do what he did, the way he saved the rest of the staff. A lot of guys would have caved right there and he did not cave." Hernandez (4-1) won for the first time in more than a month. He took a shutout bid into the sevennth inning, then gave up a three-run double to Ryan Hanigan with two outs and was pulled.dddddddddddd At that point, Hernandez was fuming about the strike zone of plate umpire Mark Ripperger. On his way off the mound, Hernandez had a few words for Ripperger. Hernandez said he couldnt repeat anything he uttered. "Im sure he got his moneys worth. I didnt understand everything he said," Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said. "I kind of knew it was going to happen because he was not happy." Hernandez rebounded from a rough last four starts. It was his first start for the Rays since Aug. 15, 2012, when he tossed a perfect game at Safeco Field. Asked his thoughts on giving Hernandez a big early lead, Maddon said, "Thats called being sub-optimal." James Jones doubled, singled and scored in each of the first three innings as the Mariners took a 9-0 lead. Robinson Cano drove in Jones twice. They werent alone at providing production at the top of Seattles order. Stefan Romero homered, doubled and singled and Corey Hart had two hits and two RBIs. Justin Smoak hit a two-run homer and Mike Zunino added a solo shot for Seattle. The rare back-to-back replays came in the first inning as Cano and then Hart both barely missed home runs on fly balls that hit the yellow line atop the fence and bounced back. Umpires ruled both balls in play, and their calls were confirmed. Cano wound up with a double on his drive to left field, Hart was thrown out trying for a double on his shot to right. "That was pretty weird. You had nothing to lose by asking them to review them," McClendon said. NOTES: Rays LHP David Price will make his first career start at Safeco Field on Tuesday. Its just his second start against Seattle in his career. ... Cano has reached safely in 21 straight games. ' ' '