INDIANAPOLIS -- Lance Stephenson savors each opportunity he gets to beat up on his hometown teams -- especially when the Pacers are winning. Bobby Wahl Jersey . On Thursday night, Indianas flamboyant guard had a big night on national television. Stephenson had a career-high 28 points, four rebounds and four assists and led the Pacers to their second-most lopsided win of the season, 117-89 over the Knicks. "If hes flashy, hes being flashy making basketball coach," coach Frank Vogel said. "One of our assistants said, Boy, I wish I had Lances energy every day. His competitive spirit is as high as anyone weve coached." Stephenson has been playing this way all season. He leads the NBA with three triple-doubles, the most of any Pacers player since Detlef Schrempf in 1992-93. With any luck, hed have a couple of more, too. And after a nasty crossover or spectacular move to the basket, he might show off some of that New York flair by wiggling his hips. But the Nets and Knicks seem to bring out the best in the Brooklyn native. This time, on a night that may serve as an audition for the All-Star selectors, he showed the whole basketball world what he could do. Stephenson went 10 of 17 from the field, 5 of 5 from the free-throw line, 3 of 7 on 3-pointers and had no turnovers in 28 minutes. His previous scoring high (26) came Dec. 23 in a 103-86 win at Brooklyn, and before this season, Stephenson had scored 22 points just two times -- once against Chicago in April 2012; the other, of course, came at Madison Square Garden last spring. Even a former Indiana University basketball star like Mike Woodson, who was drilled in defence under Bob Knight, came away impressed. "Youve really got to tip your hat to him," the Knicks coach said. "We had no answers for him." That has been a league-wide problem for Pacers foes, and not just against Stephenson. Indiana won its third straight to maintain its grip on the NBAs best record, extend its Eastern Conference lead over Miami to four games and continue its claim to the leagues best home record, 20-1. The Pacers arent slowing down, either. They beat Washington by 27 on Friday, Sacramento by 24 on Tuesday and handed what was one of the leagues hottest teams its most embarrassing road loss of the season. For the most part, Indiana has relied on its staunch defence. Stephenson and Paul George have suddenly given Indiana a devastating offensive punch, too. George added 25 points and seven rebounds on a night six players scored in double figures. The Pacers produced season highs for total points and points in a half (63) for the second straight game, and they even heeded the advice of team president Larry Bird, by cutting down their turnovers to a season-low five. "We have set a goal, and we want to be the No. 1 seed (in the East)," Stephenson said. "Every night I try to bring something to the table." The Knicks just couldnt keep up. Carmelo Anthony finished with 28 points, nine in the first six minutes and 18 in the first quarter when it was still a game. Tyson Chandler had 13 points and nine rebounds, while Raymond Felton and J.R. Smith each had 12. Smith played nearly 28 minutes after being benched in two of the Knicks previous four games. "Theyre a good team, but I dont think theyre 30 points better than our team," Woodson said after the rematch of last springs conference semifinals, which Indiana also won. "We were awful." Things started well for New York as Anthony pushed them to a 16-8 lead. But the Pacers rallied with an 11-2 run to take a 28-26 lead. Anthony bailed out the Knicks with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to make it 31-30 after one. Indiana seized control with an 11-1 spurt midway through the second quarter and pulled away late in the first half with a 16-7 run. That made it 63-48 at halftime. George opened the second half by scoring 10 points in a 15-8 spurt, which made it 78-56, and Stephenson closed it out as the Knicks couldnt get closer than 16 the rest of the way. "We understand how good we are when we run," George said. "I think thats the best way to put and the biggest way to look at it." NOTES: Kenyon Martin left in the second quarter and Amare Stoudemire followed him to the locker room in the third quarter. Both had sprained left ankles and did not return. ... Former Pacers All-Star Metta World Peace was inactive in New Yorks only regular-season game in Indianapolis. ... Fans chanted "Reg-gie, Reg-gie" when former Pacers star turned TV analyst Reggie Miller was shown on the overhead screen during the fourth quarter. ... Indiana has won four straight home games against the Knicks. Chris Capuano Jersey . Here at TSN.ca we will take a look back at the season by bringing together a panel of experts to help pick the best 50 players of the season. Stitched Brewers Jerseys .Y. - Alex Rodriguez paid $305,000 for evidence that could be used in the case involving the Biogenesis of America drug clinic, the Daily News reported Saturday. https://www.cheapbrewers.com/1359y-trey-supak-jersey-brewers.html . Gough finished in fourth, 0.433 seconds behind American Erin Hamlin, who took the bronze medal at the Sanki Sliding Center in Rzhanaya Polyana.CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Panthers coach Ron Rivera doesnt foresee any changes to the coaching staff or roster following his teams latest lopsided loss.The answers are in the locker room, in the classroom and on the coaching staff, the coach said.However, while the Panthers continue searching for those solutions time is running out on a forgettable season.Carolina (3-8-1) entered Sundays game at Minnesota in control of its own playoff destiny in the NFC South, but played uninspired football in the cold and allowed the Vikings to return two blocked punts for touchdowns in a 31-13 loss.Riveras preseason goal of posting back-to-back winning season for the first time in franchise history wont happen.And while the Panthers remain mathematically alive in the weak NFC South, a seven-game winless streak suggests the chances of running the table in December are highly unlikely.Carolina ranks 27th in the league in points scored, while allowing the third-most points in the league. Its special teams rank near the bottom of nearly every statistical category in the NFL and has allowed three returns for touchdowns.Struggling quarterback Cam Newton said after Sundays loss he was concerned the Panthers are losing their swagger.When we keep trying to point and find excuses, were going to keep getting those types of results, Newton said. It will start by all 11 guys on that field taking full responsibility and accepting coaching and getting better.Linebacker A.J. Klein said the only thing the Panthers can do now is look ahead.If we dwell on this and dont move forward thats just going to eat away at the team and grow like a cancer — so you just try and stay positive, Klein said.It might help too if the Panthers start faster.Carolina has been outscored 178-85 in the first half, and has held a lead for only 140 minutes, 54 seconds of the 735 minutes it has played this season, per STATS.Rivera continues to call Newton the teams quarterback of the future, even though hes in a massive slump that includes at least one interception in eight straight games. Drew Pomeranz Jersey. Newton hasnt had much help from a young offensive line assigned to protect him. Hes been under siege in the pocket, sacked 25 times in the last six games.Rivera said Monday there are various reasons for the teams demise following a 12-4 season last year, but said he didnt want to dwell on the negative. He said the goal is finish strong and win the final four games.The Panthers travel to New Orleans on Sunday, return home to face Tampa Bay and Cleveland, and finish the season the road at Atlanta.It will test our character, Rivera said.Rivera seems content to ride out the schedule with the coaches and players he has rather than making any changes.Were not going to doing anything kneejerk, Rivera said. Were going to go through the process. A year ago it was good enough, and now its not. We have to find out why, and what happened. We believe we know and now we have to correct it. Its not like we dont know what happening. ... (But) you dont give up on something just because something negative happens. If we did we would be a nation of quitters. And I aint quitting on us.In the meantime, the Panthers are turning more and more to young players like cornerback Bene Benwikere, safety Tre Boston, offensive tackle Mike Remmers and wide receivers Philly Brown and DeAndre Presley.Rivera insisted that isnt about playing for next season, but rather putting the best players on the field that give the team the best chance to win.If it happens that were putting a younger guy on the field then so be it, Rivera said.NOTES: Rivera said DeAngelo Williams broke a bone in his right hand on Sunday, but said the 31-year-old running back should be able to play Sunday at New Orleans if the swelling subsides.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '