"Indiana Pacers coach Jim O'Brien doesn't consider his decision to go with Earl Watson and Dahntay Jones for most of the second half of Wednesday's loss to Atlanta as a message to starters T.J. Ford and Brandon Rush.

O'Brien said it was a matter of staying with the players who were playing well. He wasn't referring to offense. He liked that Jones and Watson's defensive intensity helped the Pacers erase a 10-point deficit and go ahead by one in the fourth quarter.

O'Brien might not see it as delivering a message, but Ford and Rush should see it as a reminder that playing time is not guaranteed.

Ford (three points) and Rush (six points) started, but they combined to play 12 minutes in the second half. Watson and Jones totaled 21 points in 32 minutes in the second half.

Watson (20 points) and Jones (17 points), along with Jeff Foster, Luther Head and Solomon Jones were on the court when the Pacers made their run. Watson's 3-pointer gave them a 101-100 lead.

"They gave us the type of defensive intensity that is necessary for us to win basketball games," O'Brien said. "We need that across the board from everybody under any circumstances."

Injury updateRookie Tyler Hansbrough took a "dramatic step" Thursday when he practiced full court for the first time this season.

Hansbrough, the No. 13 pick in the draft, has been sidelined with a shin problem since late July. He started practicing in the halfcourt last week.

"We're starting to see some drastic changes and starting to see this thing heal," Hansbrough said. "(I'm) looking to get to play in my first game in the NBA."

The Pacers will continue to monitor Hansbrough's practice sessions with the idea that his regular-season debut could be quickly approaching.

"If he can get to the point where he can practice for an extended period of time live, he'll be ready for the games," O'Brien said."