|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME FLOW
INDIANANPOLIS (AP) -- Forgive the Indiana Pacers for thinking
about old times Wednesday night.
But New York was in town and it was close enough to the playoffs
that it certainly had that old-time feel.
|  | | Reggie Miller got excited playing against old friends and rivals like Mark Jackson and the Knicks and hit seven 3-pointers to make the occasion.
|
Jalen Rose scored 25 points and had seven assists, while Reggie
Miller scored 24 points and hit seven 3-pointers as the Pacers held
on for a 100-93 victory over the Knicks -- clinching the Eastern
Conference's final playoff spot.
"New York-Indiana: That's enough said. It's one of the great
rivalries in sports," coach Isiah Thomas said. "I think the
primary reason is probably because of Reggie. He lights up and does
special things when he sees the Knicks."
Miller was doing that all night Wednesday.
He hit five of his first six 3-pointers, matched a season-high
with seven 3s, and his free throw with 16.5 seconds left, following
a technical foul, helped Indiana seal the victory.
The Pacers couldn't have asked for much more -- except to get
into the playoffs. They managed that by winning their fifth
consecutive game, their ninth in a row at home, coupled with Boston's
102-97 defeat against Miami.
"New York is a team that will give up an occasional 3," Rose
said. "Fortunately, we have the ultimate 3-point shooter in the
game."
It was more than just Miller, though.
The Pacers matched a record-high with 14 3-pointers against the
NBA's top defensive unit.
And the Knicks started without two starters -- Larry Johnson and
Allan Houston -- and lost a third, Marcus Camby, just 47 seconds
into the game.
The Pacers took advantage after Camby crashed hard to the floor
following a dunk on the game's first basket. He had to be helped
off the court with a bruised left hip and didn't return.
"I think with guys being out like Allan and Marcus, we have to
step up as a team," Glen Rice said. "Today, it wasn't working for
us."
Instead, the Pacers hit four 3s in the first 7:23, which allowed
them to build a 28-21 edge late in the first quarter.
Indiana was far from finished. It used a 9-4 spurt midway
through the third quarter to extend the lead to 62-50, then watched
the Knicks steadily rally to 79-77 with 6:34 left in the
game.
"That's how New York is," Miller said. "It doesn't matter who
is on the court because everyone plays the same way. Everyone plays
hard."
But Travis Best hit a 12-footer and after Kurt Thomas hit one of
two free throws, Miller hit a 3 from the right corner. Rose
followed that with two free throws and a 10-footer to make it 88-78
with 4:40 to go.
Still, New York charged. The Knicks closed to 95-93 on two
Thomas free throws with 16.5 seconds left. Thomas finished with 22
points and 10 rebounds, while Latrell Sprewell and Mark Jackson
each scored 15 points.
But Miller and Best combined for three free throws in the final
16.5 seconds to seal the victory and rekindle the memories.
"It was a typical matchup," Best said. "It definitely did
feel like one of those old-time matchups."
Game notes
X-rays on Camby's hip were negative and he is listed as
day-to-day. ... At halftime, the Pacers ran an extended report,
with no sound, on the Celtics-Heat game. Not one player looked up.
... With seven assists Wednesday, Jalen Rose now has 2,000 in his
career. ... New York had won four of five games before Wednesday
night. ... Indiana has scored 118 points off 116 turnovers in its
last eight games.
 Send this story to a friend
|
|
ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
New York Clubhouse
Indiana Clubhouse
Knicks' Camby knocked out early in Pacers' game
Celtics out of playoffs thanks to latest defeat
RECAPS
Miami 102
Boston 97
Chicago 113
Washington 109
Atlanta 107
Cleveland 102
Detroit 99
Toronto 87
Indiana 100
New York 93
Phoenix 111
Dallas 106
Seattle 107
Golden State 101
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Reggie Miller is happy to be making another trip to the NBA playoffs. (Courtesy TNT)
wav: 127 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
|
