"By no means am I in any panic mode because I understand what we have and what’s missing," Bobcats Head Coach Bernie Bickerstaff said before the game. "But you can not accept excuses, and I think you’ve got to care. I think to a man, each guy in that locker room really cares, and they’re struggling like hell with themselves now. You hate dealing in negatives, but as a coaching staff, we’re obligated to express the truth. But you don’t stay there – you move on."

The Bobcats moved on by answering every question with authority against the Pacers as their losing streak came to an emphatic end.

After starting the game shooting 7-22 from the field (.318) and finding itself in a 30-22 hole after the first quarter, Charlotte suddenly couldn't miss, connecting on 34-56 shots (.607) the rest of the game and finishing with its highest shooting percentage of the season (.526) on 41-78 shooting.

Kareem Rush did indeed prove to be the answer at shooting guard, as he scored a career-high 35 points on 12-15 shooting from the field, including 6-7 from three-point range. His hot hand fueled the Bobcats in the second quarter. Rush scored 13 points in the period and didn't miss a shot from the field (4-4), the three-point line (2-2) or the free throw line (3-3) as he helped turn an eight-point deficit into a 10-point lead at the end of the first half.

Okafor got things going in the first half, as well, scoring 14 points and bringing down five rebounds in the first 24 minutes of play. Okafor continued to play with passion, finishing with 20 points and 12 rebounds to secure his fifth double-double of the season.

But Okafor wasn't the only Bobcat to record a double-double on this night. Rookie point guard Raymond Felton was called upon to make his first NBA start an hour before the game when Knight was placed on the inactive list, and he made it pay off in a big way, recording his first NBA double-double with career highs in points (18) and assists (10).

Felton had three points on 1-8 shooting with four assists in the first half, but exploded in the third quarter, scoring 11 points and dishing out five assists. Like Rush in the second quarter, Felton didn't miss a shot in the third from the field (4-4) or the three-point line (3-3) while helping the Bobcats put the game out of reach.

And that was how it went for the Bobcats. Bickerstaff was looking for fire, and every Bobcats player who stepped on the court seemed to be doused in gasoline, getting their individual chances to burn bright.

Rush couldn't miss. Okafor dominated inside. Felton got his teammates involved. Keith Bogans stepped back into the starting lineup and scored 14 points, and Sean May continued his stellar play of the bench with 15 points and eight rebounds. Even Jake Voskul, who wasn't even supposed to play after twisting his ankle on Tuesday, scored five points and had a block in nine minutes of action.

Still, it was player whose name doesn't stand out on the score sheet that might have given the Bobcats their biggest spark.

Charlotte jumped out to a 67-55 lead early in the third quarter, but a 7-0 run by the Pacers cut the lead to five points and appeared to have the Bobcats reeling. Enter Kevin Burleson.

With 6:35 remaining in the stanza, Burleson intercepted a pass from Stephen Jackson intended for Jamaal Tinsley and raced the length of the court for a layup that put Charlotte up, 69-62, and sparked a 14-3 run that put the game out of reach. Burleson finished with two points, three assists and perhaps most importantly, three steals.

"I think Burleson coming in kind of turned the tide, defensively with the pressure," Bickerstaff said. "Then Raymond (Felton) caught on to it."

Ron Artest led the Pacers with 27 points, followed by Stephen Jackson (18) and Jermaine O'Neal (17) in double digits.

The two teams will meet again at 7:00 p.m. on Friday in Indiana.

NOTES: The Bobcats 122-90 win over the Pacers is their second home win this season over an Eastern Conference opponent in as many games. The Bobcats first-ever game at Charlotte Bobcats Arena was a 107-105 overtime win over Eastern Conference foe Boston… The 32-point margin of victory is the largest in franchise history, eclipsing the 21-point margin in last season’s April 13 victory over Atlanta, 105-84… The Bobcats point total of 122 is also a team record, surpassing the mark of 116 points set March 12 of last season against the Los Angeles Lakers in a 117-116 loss… Kareem Rush reached a new career high, scoring 35 points on 12-15 shooting. Rush’s previous career-high of 30 points was set on January 1, 2004 at Sacramento while as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers… Rush made 6-7 three-pointers, tying the franchise record. Last season Rush connected on six three-point attempts at Chicago on January 27, 2005 and Keith Bogans connected on six three-pointers at Dallas on March 19, 2005… As a team the Bobcats made 11 three-pointers, surpassing the mark of 10 made three-point baskets set at Chicago on January 27, 2005… The Bobcats scored 100 points or more for the fourth time this season. Charlotte is 3-1 when it passes the century mark… The Bobcats picked up 17 steals to the Pacers’ five. Coming into tonight, the Bobcats were leading the NBA in steals with an average of 12.3. Charlotte also entered tonight forcing an NBA-best 19.8 turnovers and tied a season high by forcing 26 turnovers in the game… The Bobcats .622 field goal percentage in the second half was also a franchise record. The previous high for field goal percentage in a half was .579, set twice last season vs. Atlanta on April 13, 2005 and against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 12, 2005… The Bobcats scored 24 fast break points to the Pacers’ one tonight. On the season, Charlotte has scored its opponents,160-76 on the break… fast break points while its opponents have scored 76 fast break points… Sean May scored 15 points tonight, and is averaging 16.0 points over his last three games.

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM
Bobcats General Manager & Head Coach Bernie Bickerstaff
(On the game) I think effort is always answered. Hats off to those guys, the pride that they showed with three top guys out, they could have easily had an excuse. I think Burleson coming in kind of turned the tide, defensively with the pressure. Raymond (Felton) caught on to it. Again, the bottom line was we made shots. When it’s all said and done, that’s what it’s all about, made shots.
I think the defense was the reason again. I think the fastbreak points were 24 to one. When you get steals, you get some easy baskets. The old brain here doesn’t care how it goes in as long as it goes in. We got some easy baskets, that helped and we made free throws. I thought Emeka (Okafor) and Primoz (Brezec) really started off well. I thought they were a presence down in the paint.

(On what he told the team when Indiana started hot from the field) We just told them to be patient. We’re somewhat acclimated to it now, because that’s normally what happens to us. We’re in a hole, so we just keep fighting back in that situation. There was no miracle on my part. I think the credit goes to the guys. The defense turned up in that situation. That was the thing we kept saying, let’s surprise and pressure because if you let Indiana execute, they’re very very good. In the beginning of the third quarter they changed things up and I think they may have gotten nine points in a row right there on a couple of threes at the top of the key. They made a nice adjustment, but I thought it was the full-court defense, not allowing them to get down court and utilize the 24-second clock. They had to rush their options.

(On Kareem Rush) It’s always good to be able to feel good about yourself. The one thing that has never wavered is his teammates and coaching staff. The one thing we keep saying is that he keeps shooting the ball. I think it’s great for his confidence. You saw him, once it started to roll, he just kept putting it up. He wasn’t doing a whole lot of dribbling. I thought that one drive from right to left, the little tear drop, that’s a difficult shot but he had it going tonight. I’m happy for him.

(On the difference in tonight’s game) I thought we made pretty good decisions, got good shots and the shots went down. We have been very consistent in steals. Where we have not been consistent is conversion rate. We might force 27 turnovers and get 18 points off of them.

(On Felton and Burleson’s games) They have to keep it in perspective because they’re rookies. The more success you have the more you get confidence-wise.

(On Raymond Felton) You know what he did first tonight was get his teammates involved. That’s the first thing he should be looking for. He made nice screen and roll play to Sean (May) and others and then his rhythm got good. It helped his confidence to see his teammates put it in the hole. You know how it is, it’s contagious. Our conversation with Raymond is to make your teammates better. I never doubted his courage. I had a conversation before the game and my whole thing was that I wanted him to play with passion, you have to be who you are.

(On the team) That’s the good thing about the team, they make no excuses. They stand a chance because they have the ability to look in the mirror.

Bobcats forward Kareem Rush
(On his career-high performance) I’m a shooter, and tonight was one of those nights I think I was due. It was one of those games where you find yourself knocking down any shot. So, my teammates were looking for me, and the rim looked as big as the ocean.

(On a shooting mentality) That is good and bad, because the pressure is there for you to keep taking shots. But when you’re not making them, you don’t want to take so many. Hopefully, this can boost my confidence where I will want to take tougher shots. Tonight’s shots weren’t easy, but they just happened to fall in.

(On playing with injured starters on the bench) Without Brevin [Knight], Gerald [Wallace], Melvin [Ely], without three of our main weapons, we came out and played well. Raymond [Felton] had a big game, and so did Sean [May] and Emeka [Okafor]. Everyone stepped up and played well tonight.

(On carrying over tonight’s performance to Friday) After I get hot like tonight, it tends to carry over for a while. So hopefully, we when we play them on Friday I can get hot again.

(On Friday’s game against Indiana) I know they’re going to come out hard, especially after getting beat by thirty. I know it’s going to be a tough game on Friday, but by playing them tonight we know what to expect.

Bobcats guard Kevin Burleson
(On turning around a losing streak) For a lot of guys it was putting a little more effort in, because we weren’t playing hard enough. For today, everybody said that if we were going to lose, we’re going to lose playing as hard as we can.

(On what Brevin Knight’s leadership means to the team) Brevin has been talking to me everyday in practice. Off the court, he has been like a big brother to me since I have been here. Before the game, he was telling me to slow down, don’t try to do so much, and relax. Coming off the floor for a timeout, he would come up to me and be a big help on the bench.