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Thursday, Feb. 24 7:00pm ET
Pacers survive Brand's 38-point outburst | |||||
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 GAME FLOW
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Jalen Rose just keeps rolling along with the Indiana Pacers at home. Rose had 22 points and the Pacers overcame a season-high 38 points from rookie Elton Brand to defeat the Chicago Bulls 100-83 Thursday night for their 21st straight home victory. "I had a great feeling out there, but I would rather have the win," Brand said. "Sometimes I feel like I can't be stopped and at times tonight I felt I wasn't stopped." Six Indiana players scored in double figures as Indiana used balance and depth to improve the league's best home record to 24-2. Reserves Austin Croshere and Derrick McKey made crucial contributions, Croshere with 17 points and eight rebounds and McKey with a season-high 14 points while matching his season high of 10 rebounds. "Who cares about stats? I just go out and do what I can do," said McKey, whose double-double was his first since Jan. 30, 1998. "I'm aware of what those guys (reserves) can do. I just try and go out and play off them." "Our second team's aggressiveness and enthusiasm make things happen," said Croshere, who also had two blocks and matched his career high of three steals. "We tried to make things happen on defense. We made them take the quick shots," he said. There were six lead changes and two ties in the third quarter before two free throws by Rose put the Pacers ahead to stay, 67-65 with 1:23 remaining. A layup by McKey off a slick pass by Rose followed by two free throws by McKey sent the Pacers into the fourth period leading 71-65. "The young guys automatically bring life into the game," said McKey, 33 and in his 13th season. "They come in and they're young-legged. That's what this team needs, young players who come in and pick up the slack when the veterans may not have it that night." Chicago trailed 81-75 following a three-point play by Brand, but Indiana responded with an 9-0 run beginning with a jumper by Rose and ending with his 3-pointer. The only other Chicago player in double figures was John Starks with 11. Brand hit a season-high 18 field goals on 23 shots, but his teammates were only 19-of-52. "He took some great shots and hit most of them. Elton is growing in his experience," Chicago coach Tim Floyd said of the 20-year-old. "He's going to be a very special player in this league someday." McKey and Croshere helped Indiana to a 42-34 rebounding advantage. The Bulls, last in the league in field goal accuracy, shot 70 percent in the first quarter (14-of-20) to lead 30-22. Chicago took its biggest lead of the game at 33-22 when Fred Hoiberg, activated before the game, hit a 3-pointer to open the second quarter. The Bulls lost the lead while missing 11 consecutive shots from the field and going more than five minutes without a field goal in the second period. The Bulls shot 22 percent (5-of-23) in the quarter and Indiana used a 16-3 run to lead 45-44 at halftime. "We came out sluggish," Indiana coach Larry Bird said. "Our second unit picked us up. The last couple of years it seems that when the starters don't have it going, the subs come in and pick it up, then the starters are OK. But tonight they never got it going, so I left the second unit in." Game notesHoiberg had missed 43 games with a right quad strain. ... Rose scored in double figures for the 22nd straight game and has hit 20 in 10 of his last 11 games. ... Brand's previous highs were 30 points against Sacramento on Jan. 28 and 14 field goals against Indiana on Jan. 24. ... The Bulls have the worst road record in the East at 4-22. ... Indiana hasn't lost at home since Nov. 25 and Chicago was the first of three straight home games. The Pacers have had sellouts of 18,345 for all 26 home games. ... Chicago attempted only eight free throws, the fewest by an Indiana opponent this season. ... Indiana is 27-5 when limiting the opposition to less than 100 points. | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Chicago Clubhouse Indiana Clubhouse RECAPS Indiana 100 Chicago 83 AUDIO/VIDEO   Elton Brand shows Dale Davis his fadeaway jumper.avi: 447 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1   | |||||