RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Seven consecutive losses had Golden State
hungry for victory and the Warriors used free throws to fill their
appetite.
| | Pacers guard Reggie Miller became the 25th player in NBA history to reach 20,000 points with his 30-point effort Friday. |
Antawn Jamison scored 28 points and Erick Dampier had a
season-high 20 to lead Golden State over Indiana 92-90 Friday
night, snapping their losing streak and a five-game winning streak
of the Pacers.
Golden State's streak had included a pair of overtime setbacks
and a 92-90 loss at Minnesota in its last game.
"We did a great job of just keeping our poise and just kept on
playing basketball. The only difference between the last couple of
games and tonight is instead of finding a way to lose, we found a
way to win," Jamison said.
Indiana rallied from a 13-point deficit to tie the score at 84
on a jumper by Reggie Miller with 3:16 to play. The score gave
Miller 30 points and made him the 25th player to score 20,000
points in his career.
"In a loss, 20,000 points doesn't mean much," said Miller, who
has averaged 29.6 points in his last five games.
Golden State began the game 27th in the league in free throw
accuracy and helped itself by hitting 23 of 25 attempts, including
two each by Chris Mullin and Larry Hughes in the final seven
seconds.
"It's always a good feeling when you get a win, but this is
more sweeter because we have been putting ourselves in a position
to win ballgames and we just couldn't find a way," Jamison said.
Dampier's 20 were only three off his career-high.
"Everyone came out and played with the intensity we needed,"
said Dampier, who outscored Indiana's entire starting front line.
"It felt good getting the ball in the post so much. It gives me
confidence knowing the team considers me a go-to guy."
Golden State shot 43 percent while limiting Indiana to a
season-low 38.5.
"Guys came into tonight with their heads on straight. This is
by far our best defensive game of the season," said Adam Keefe,
who collected a season-high 12 rebounds. "We came together and
played unselfishly on defense. It was great to see this team play
that way."
Indiana began the game without Jalen Rose and Al Harrington and
then lost Jermaine O'Neal to illness.
"We were playing with eight guys. We can make up for a lot of
things, but when you don't have Jalen Rose, Jermaine O'Neal and Al
Harrington, that's a lot to make up for," said Indiana coach Isiah
Thomas. "With us being shorthanded, it caught up with our guys
from an energy standpoint."
Indiana had won its last three games with fourth quarter
comebacks.
"This one feels good. We've been struggling," said Mookie
Blaylock, who had seven of his 11 points in the fourth quarter.
Blaylock's 22-foot jumper put Golden State ahead to stay 86-84
with three minutes remaining. He then picked up his seventh assist
on a short jumper by Jamison which made the score 88-84 with 2:07
left.
Miller's tip-in brought the Pacers within two again with 1:14
remaining. Indiana had another chance to tie the game or take the
lead, but Miller's 3-point attempt with 6.8 seconds remaining
sailed over the basket and resulted in a 24-second violation.
Mullin, playing against his former team, was fouled with 6.3
seconds remaining and made his free throws. Travis Best then scored
for Indiana, and Hughes sealed the win with two free throws
with 2.2 seconds to go for a 92-88 lead.
"We were just desperate to get a win," Mullin said. "It felt
strange being on the line in this building and the crowd cheering
against me."
Jeff Foster scored a career-high 12 points and also had nine
rebounds for Indiana.
"I got a little bit tired in the second half, but that is not
an excuse," said Foster, who had played only 39 minutes in the
team's first seven games. "We didn't do a good job of keeping the
ball off the block for Dampier. He got it on the block and took us
to task."
Game notes Former Indiana University coach Bob Knight, who has been
spending time assisting the Pacers, attended the game and sat with
club president Donnie Walsh. ... Golden State guard Vinny Del Negro
missed his second consecutive game with a sprained left ankle. ...
Travis Best had a career-high 12 assists and also scored 12 points
for Indiana. ... Foster helped Indiana's bench record a 31-8
advantage over Golden State's reserves.
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NBA Scoreboard
Golden State Clubhouse
Indiana Clubhouse
RECAPS
Golden State 92 Indiana 90
Philadelphia 94 Miami 73
Boston 106 Atlanta 99
Detroit 96 Charlotte 89
Minnesota 99 San Antonio 94
Milwaukee 89 Cleveland 76
New York 90 Phoenix 85
Dallas 99 Seattle 95
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