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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Nothing comes easy these days for the
Indiana Pacers. Not even a victory against the NBA's worst team.
Reggie Miller scored 28 points and Jalen Rose added 17 as the
Pacers rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat Chicago 100-93 on
Friday night, improving their playoff chances.
"I thought they came out and played pretty hard," said Pacers
forward Jeff Foster, who had a career-high 15 points and 10
rebounds. "Freddie (Hoiberg) was hitting some shots and Elton
(Brand) was hitting some tough shots. When they do that, it's
pretty hard to beat them."
Perhaps the Pacers should have expected as much. After all, it's
been that kind of season.
The defending Eastern Conference champions are locked in a tough
battle with Boston for the final playoff spot in the East. The
victory Friday night, coupled with Boston's 100-96 loss to the Los
Angeles Lakers, gave the Pacers a 1 1/2-game lead on the Celtics.
But the victory proved more difficult than many would have
imagined.
"Chicago is the kind of team that hangs around a lot of
games," Pacers coach Isiah Thomas said. "You're not going to beat
them by 20 or 25 points because they are still playing and are
still playing hard."
The Pacers found out just how difficult that can be -- even
against an opponent that has now lost 23 straight on the road.
Chicago outrebounded and outshot Indiana from 3-point range.
The Bulls also managed to shoot 48.6 percent from the field
against a team that ranks among the NBA's best in defensive
field-goal percentage, and they didn't allow Indiana to lead by
more than seven until the final 13.3 seconds.
"We knew Chicago was going to be tough," said Travis Best, who
had 10 assists and six steals. "With them shooting 50 percent, we
knew we had to step up our defense. We got it done on the defensive
end."
That took time.
Indiana built a 55-49 lead 90 seconds into the third quarter.
Then Jermaine O'Neal drew a technical foul, an offensive foul and a
flagrant within a 10-second span.
O'Neal was ejected following the flagrant foul, and Chicago took
advantage by grabbing the lead, then using a 9-2 run to extend its
edge to 74-68 with 3:30 left in the third quarter.
"It was there to be had," said Brand, who finished with 30
points and nine rebounds. "We knew they would play hard, they're
vying for a playoff spot. They came to play, and we came to play,
too."
But the Pacers, who trailed 80-77 after three quarters, regained
the lead at 86-85 when Rose hit a 5-footer with 7:10 left. Indiana
followed that with an 8-1 spurt, which made it 94-88 with 2:07 to
go.
Hoiberg then hit a 3-pointer to make it 94-91 with 1:04 left. He
finished with 17 points against his former team. But Miller and
Foster combined to sink six free throws in the final 28 seconds to
wrap up the victory.
"In the fourth quarter, we were bearing down and we held them
under 20 points," Miller said. "I believe that's really good."
Game notes
Chicago has lost six straight to Indiana, including all
four at Conseco Fieldhouse. ... Indiana is 13-13 against the
Central Division. The Pacers have had seven straight winning
seasons against the Central. ... O'Neal suffered a cut lower lip
that required six stitches during the first quarter. ... Best's six
steals sent him past Steve Stipanovich and into ninth place on the
team's all-time list.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Chicago Clubhouse
Indiana Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 96
Cleveland 88
LA Lakers 100
Boston 96
Miami 81
Charlotte 76
Toronto 108
Orlando 100
Indiana 100
Chicago 93
Minnesota 101
Phoenix 88
Sacramento 118
Vancouver 90
Portland 122
Golden State 91
LA Clippers 113
Milwaukee 110
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Reggie Miller makes a steal and goes the other way for a layup.
avi: 495 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
 Jalen Rose says the Pacers control their own destiny.
wav: 100 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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