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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Indiana's strategy in the fourth quarter was
simple: Give the ball to Reggie Miller or Travis Best.
|  | | Jermaine tries to shoot over Shaquille in a battle of O'Neals. |
Miller scored 18 of his 33 points and Best had eight of his 17
in the final period, including the game-winner with 19 seconds to
go, as the Pacers rallied from 14 points down and beat the Los
Angeles Lakers 110-109 Sunday.
"We were getting a lot of good things off the pick and roll,"
Best said. "They had defended it pretty good a couple times, and
that last time I actually saw a lane to the basket but I pulled up
and took the shot and it went down for me."
Miller scored the Pacers' first nine points in the fourth
quarter. Two free throws by Austin Croshere and a basket by
Jermaine O'Neal tied the game at 94.
Minutes later, two free throws by Best gave Indiana its first
lead since early in the second quarter, and a driving layup by
Croshere put the Pacers up 101-98.
Kobe Bryant, who had missed four straight shots, pulled the
Lakers within one, then Shaquille O'Neal made a basket and free
throw for a 103-101 lead. There were five lead changes before Best
hit the winning shot from 20 feet out.
"We were down double-digit points to the Lakers and they had
the momentum going into the second half," Best said. "Isiah
(coach Thomas) just said keep coming out and playing hard, play
like you do in practice. That's exactly what we did. We didn't give
up.
"It was a battle. Everyone contributed, and that's what we have
to have to win," he said.
After Best's go-ahead basket, Jalen Rose appeared to steal the
ball, but Bryant got the loose ball back and managed to call a
timeout with four seconds to go. The Lakers then inbounded the ball
to Bryant, who missed from the right corner as the game ended.
"I had a good look," Bryant said. "But the release felt a
little long, so I started to shorten it up."
O'Neal led Los Angeles with 35 points and 15 rebounds, while
Bryant finished with 33. Rose had 19 points – 16 in the third
quarter – and Best finished with 18 points and 11 assists.
"We weren't able to stop them in the fourth quarter," Lakers
coach Phil Jackson said. "Reggie got hot and we just didn't have
an answer for him."
The Lakers led 31-25 after one quarter. With Shaq on the bench,
the Pacers made their first comeback.
O'Neal returned after a free throw by Zan Tabak pulled Indiana
to 35-32, but two straight Los Angeles turnovers produced baskets
by Tabak and Rose for Indiana's first lead at 36-35.
The lead lasted 40 seconds before two free throws by O'Neal put
the Lakers back on top, then Bryant had five points in an 11-1 run
over the final three minutes as Los Angeles went ahead 60-46 at the
half. The Lakers led 83-74 going into the final period.
"I thought they were having trouble handling the pick and roll,
and Travis was doing a good job breaking down the defense," Thomas
said.
"Jalen, Travis and Reggie were all aggressive offensively in
the second half. It's a big win for us because we've got such a
young team, and confidence is a big thing for us."
Game notes
Shaq is averaging 33.5 points and 13 rebounds in the four
games he has played since a strained arch in his right foot forced
him to miss six games and the All-Star game. ... The Lakers are 2-2
on a six-game road trip. ... In the Lakers' last game in
Indianapolis, Rose had 32 points and Miller 25 in a 120-87 Indiana
victory in Game 5 of last year's NBA Finals. ... Tabak started at
center against Shaq and had three points in seven minutes. ...
Miller, the league leader in free throw percentage, was 9-for-9.
... The victory was Indiana's first in 13 games this season in
which its opponents have scored at least 100 points.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
LA Lakers Clubhouse
Indiana Clubhouse
RECAPS
San Antonio 92
Toronto 74
Philadelphia 104
Phoenix 98
New Jersey 102
LA Clippers 96
Utah 94
Sacramento 90
Vancouver 110
Minnesota 102
Indiana 110
LA Lakers 109
Orlando 96
New York 88
Washington 101
Denver 98
Atlanta 98
Golden State 91
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