INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Pacers are still trying to figure out how to make up for Danny Grangers absence. . In the meantime, theyre content to rely on their suddenly staunch defence. George Hill scored the first four points of the second overtime Saturday night and his teammates took care of the rest, allowing only three baskets over the final 10:45 to lead the Pacers past Sacramento 106-98 in double overtime. "Not the prettiest game in the world, but we got the W," coach Frank Vogel said. "Like early last season, our defence is carrying us." The drastic turnabout may be the biggest surprise in Indy early this season. After allowing more than 100 points per game two years ago and nearly 95 per game last season, the Pacers went into their home opener as one of only 12 teams holding opponents under 90. Sacramento (0-3) barely topped that mark in regulation and still couldnt get to 100 points despite playing 10 extra minutes. Sure, the explanation could be fatigue after playing their third straight road game and their second game in two nights. But the Pacers were just as determined to redeem themselves after Friday nights embarrassing loss at Charlotte and in front of a sold out crowd clad mostly in gold T-shirts for Indianas biggest home opener in nearly a decade. They gave the hometown fans a glimpse of the way basketball has traditionally been played in Indiana -- gritty, selfless and with a relentless defensive mentality. "This was a very tough, gut-it-out game," Pacers forward David West said. "These are the types of games you have to win in the NBA if you want to be successful." If the Pacers (2-1) demonstrated anything Saturday, it was how they could continue to win without their injured scoring leader. Hill finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists. West had 18 points and 18 rebounds. Paul George added 16 points and a career-high 17 rebounds, while Gerald Green had 17 points and All-Star centre Roy Hibbert finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks. Defensively, they were in sync on play after play. With the game tied late in regulation and early in the first overtime, Indiana missed seven consecutive shots. Yet the Pacers never allowed the Kings to take the lead. And from the moment Indiana tied the score at 36 with 5:25 left in the first half, the Kings never retook the lead. "Its tough," backup guard Aaron Brooks said. "To go into double overtime and not get 100, I think thats something that kind of baffles us. Were such a good offensive team." Not on this night. While DeMarcus Cousins delivered his usual double-double (21 points, 13 rebounds), and Marcus Thornton almost single-handedly rallied the Kings with 26 points and four 3-pointers, the Kings shot just 36.3 per cent from the field and 36.4 per cent from 3-point range. In the extra 10 minutes, they were even worse -- just 3 of 19 from the field overall. "I thought they competed at a really high level and we just didnt pull it out," Sacramento coach Keith Smart said. The problem wasnt lack of effort. Sacramento cut Indianas 14-point halftime lead to eight after the third quarter and to one when Chuck Hayes hit an 11-foot jumper with 1:07 left in regulation. West made it 91-88 with an 11-footer, and Thornton finally tied the score at 91 with 48.6 seconds to go. Indiana had four chances to take the late lead in those final seconds, missing all four shots. Thornton, too, had a chance to give Sacramento the lead on a fast break, but George cut in front of him and caused an errant shot. So the game went to overtime. Lance Stephensons 3 and Hibberts 6-footer gave Indiana a 96-93 lead with 41.2 seconds left, but Thornton tied it again with a 3 and Hill and Hibbert couldnt get their potentially winning shots to go before the buzzer sounded, forcing another overtime. "Its going to come," Vogel said of the Pacers offence. "Were working some new faces in there. Gerald and Lance havent been in our rotations and George Hill is coming along." He certainly demonstrated that two minutes into the second overtime when he broke the tie with a 6-foot runner and then was awarded a layup when Cousins was called for goaltending. That made it 100-96 with 1:44 left, all the Pacers had to do was close it out with defence. "I wasnt making shots, my teammates were not making shots," West said. "But we were able to keep pushing and get the win in a very nasty game." NOTES: It was Indianas first double overtime game since Dec. 19, 2008. .... Granger missed his third straight game with a sore left knee. ... The Kings have now been the opponent for three home openers -- all on the road. ... Saturdays game marked a homecoming of sorts for Kings coach Keith Smart, who became famous for making the winning shot in Indianas 1987 national championship game victory. ... WNBA Finals MVP Tamika Catchings attended the Pacers home opener. [url=http://www.cowboysofficialteamstore.com/autographed-emmitt-smith-jersey-dx-... Smith Jersey . The hard-serving No. 14 seed from Thornhill, Ont., had 10 aces on the day but the American countered with an even dozen, wrapping up the match in 71 minutes. .D. -- North Dakotas rich college hockey history includes seven national championships, plenty of state pride -- and a decades-old dispute over the Fighting Sioux nickname. [url=http://www.cowboysofficialteamstore.com/autographed-danny-mccray-jersey-xh-... . "Im beat up," replied Bryant, who sat at his locker with a cold pack on his bothersome back, wraps on both knees and feet in a plastic tub filled with water and ice. "Trucking along, though." Straining to work out the kinks in an offence coach Mike DAntoni compared to dancing with two left feet, the Lakers ended a four-game losing streak by holding off the worst-in-the-NBA Washington Wizards 102-96 on Friday night, thanks in large part to Bryants 30 points and seven assists, along with Jodie Meeks 24 points. [url=http://www.cowboysofficialteamstore.com/autographed-travis-frederick-jersey... Frederick Jersey . 2 slot to Uruguay in FIFAs latest standings. Germany fell to No. 3, ahead of its Euro 2012 group opponent the Netherlands. Group B rival Portugal plummeted from No. . Atlantas manager was obviously pleased the Braves avoided being swept by the Giants, but he was particularly encouraged by the way his team bounced back and regained some momentum after a tough loss. NEWARK, N.J. -- Superstar forward llya Kovalchuk has to play for the New Jersey Devils once the NHL lockout is officially lifted. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said Tuesday that the KHL reaffirmed its intention to honour an agreement with the NHL concerning contracts. "They would not permit a player who is under a valid and binding NHL SPC (to) continue to play in the KHL once the lockout is officially lifted," Daly said in an email to The Associated Press. "They have confirmed their intention to honour this agreement to us." There has been some intrigue this week whether Kovalchuk would leave SKA St. Petersburg to return to the Devils. Some reports in Russia said he was concerned that he would make less money playing in a lockout-shortened NHL season. Kovalchuk, who signed a 15-year, $100 million contract with New Jersey in 2010, played in a KHL game Tuesday. He told Russian media he was playing to stay in shape pending the end of the lockout. Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello wasnt worried. "I have no knowledge of anything other thank him coming back," Lamoriello said in a telephone interview. Jay Grossman, Kovalchuks agent, did not immediately return a telephone call left by The AP. NHL owners plan to vote on the new 10-year agreement Wednesday. Players will vote on Thursday and Friday. If both sides ratify the agreement, the league has told teams to be ready to start the season on Jan. 19. The Devils would have to open on the road because an ice show is scheduled at their arena. About a dozen Devils worked out informally at the teams practice rink at the Prudential Center on Tuesday morning. The workout was closed to the media but a couple of players on the defending Eastern Conference-championship squad stopped their cars to talk to the media and sign autographs. Those who did felt Kovalchuk, who led the team with 37 goals and 83 points last year and could be named the new captain, would return for the 48-game season. "I expect him here," said defenceman Bryce Salvador, one of the teams NHLPA player representatives. "Like I said, I dont know, until you officially talk to him or hear. I think now with the KHL, its kind of bad timing there. They are going into their All-Star Game and stuff like that, so I tthink thats where youre hearing all that stuff from. [url=http://www.cowboysofficialteamstore.com/autographed-sean-lissemore-jersey-r... Lissemore Jersey. " Defenceman Mark Fayne smiled sheepishly when asked about Kovalchuk. "I think its a little better with him here," he said. Defenceman Andy Greene, who was driven to practice by Fayne, thinks things will play out just fine as the club seeks its sixth conference title. "Obviously, we want him here," Greene said. "He is a big part of the team. I dont know. Its all speculation." Salvador was confident the new CBA would be approved by the players, noting it was "a done deal" provided the language in the tentative agreement was not changed. He admitted there was some concern about reaching an agreement, noting the 2003-04 season was lost when the two sides could not reach a settlement. "The 10-year agreement shows both sides want to limit these work stoppages every six or seven years," Salvador said. "I think we have exhausted the last one that can go on like this. Im glad its a 10-year deal and we were able to maintain 48 games, and have that integrity. Its something the league was saying, and I agree with it, winning the Stanley Cup that year is really a legitimate thing." The last time a lockout shortened the season (1994-95) to 48 games, the Devils won their first Stanley Cup. New Jersey will return most of their core from last season with the notable exception being forward Zach Parise, the former captain who signed with Minnesota as a free agent. "Its not like last year when we had a new coach coming in and new systems and everything," Greene said of second-year coach Peter DeBoer. "Everything is pretty defined there. Its one less thing to worry about getting ready for the season." Lamoriello said forward Adam Henrique, who had surgery to repair a ligament in his left thumb, is expected to return at the end of the month. He was injured playing with the teams AHL affiliate in Albany, N.Y. Henrique had 16 goals and 35 assists as a rookie last season. He added five goals and eight assists in the Devils run to the Stanley Cup finals, including three game-winning goals. His tally in overtime of Game 6 helped secure the Eastern Conference title, as the Devils eliminated the New York Rangers at home. ' ' '