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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- For Jalen Rose, Reggie Miller and Travis Best, there was no rest for the weary. No complaints either.
All three had big games while playing extended minutes for the
second straight night as the Indiana Pacers beat the Dallas
Mavericks 97-92 Wednesday.
"When you're growing up, you always dream of the opportunity to
be in the league and play 35-40 minutes," said Rose, who played 45
minutes and had 24 points and eight assists. "Now that that
opportunity has come true, I don't think you'll ever hear a player
complain about it."
Miller added 22 points and Best had 15 points and eight assists.
Both were on the court for 45 minutes after playing 43 and 42
minutes, respectively, the previous night in a loss at Toronto.
"It is and can be tiresome, but it works both ways. Sometimes you have your best games when you're tired," said Rose, who played 46 minutes the previous night. "I appreciate the opportunity, and it gives you confidence as a player knowing that your teammates
need you to produce to win.
"Myself, Reggie and Travis are going to be called upon to play
those type of minutes of we're going to win."
The victory allowed the Pacers to even their record at 11-11.
It's the sixth time this season, not including 0-0, that the Pacers
have had a .500 record.
"Hopefully this will start us on our way over the hump," Rose said.
Howard Eisley scored a career-high 27 for Dallas, including 17
in the third quarter. Michael Finley added 24 points before fouling
out in the final minute.
The Mavericks were forced to try to play catch-up over the last
few minutes after they let the Pacers take control of the game
midway through the fourth.
Best broke a 79-all tie on a 3-pointer with 8:06 left, and the
Mavericks didn't score again until 3½ minutes remained. They got
no closer than four the rest of the way.
At one point, Eisley was practically keeping the Mavs in the
game all by himself. Eisley's third 3-pointer of the third quarter
tied the game at 67-67 before Best hit a 3 to send Indiana into the
fourth quarter with a three-point lead.
"It was unfortunate we didn't come out with a win because Howard had such a great game," Dallas' Steve Nash said.
Nash got off to a quick start for Dallas, accumulating five
assists in the first 10 minutes and then sinking a jumper for a
29-22 lead. The Mavericks scored only six points over the first six
minutes of the second quarter before Nash ended the drought with a
3-pointer for a 39-34 lead.
The Pacers pulled to 45-43 at halftime, then started playing
from ahead early in the third as Rose shot 6-for-8 in the quarter
and scored 14 points.
Game notes
Miller, the NBA's leading free-throw shooter, missed a
technical foul shot with 8.5 seconds left. It was just his ninth
miss in 122 attempts. Rose, who entered the game shooting 91
percent, missed a pair with four seconds left. ... The Pacers
activated center Bruno Sundov from the injured list and placed forward-center Terry Mills on it. Sundov missed the previous six
games with a pulled left hamstring. ... Austin Croshere started for Indiana but played only six minutes as coach Isiah Thomas turned to the defensive-minded Derrick McKey. ... Dallas' Christian Laettner
scored all 13 of his points in the first quarter.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Dallas Clubhouse
Indiana Clubhouse
RECAPS
Chicago 104
Boston 86
Indiana 97
Dallas 92
Philadelphia 102
Washington 82
Charlotte 101
Sacramento 90
Detroit 92
Atlanta 69
Phoenix 103
San Antonio 93
Milwaukee 111
Utah 102
Seattle 94
Vancouver 93
Miami 94
LA Clippers 88
Portland 96
LA Lakers 86
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Reggie Miller Official Site
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