ESPN Network: ESPN.com | NFL.com | NBA.com | NHL.com | WNBA.com | ABCSports | EXPN | FANTASY | INSIDER

  Scores/Schedules
  Standings
  Statistics
  Transactions
  Injuries
  Players
  Message Board
  NBA StatSearch
  NBA en espaņol
Clubhouses






Tuesday, Mar. 27 7:00pm ET
Rose rises to occasion

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

WASHINGTON (AP) – Considering how well they started, the Indiana Pacers had to work hard at the finish to end a seven-game road losing streak.

Feasting on the worst defense in the NBA, the Pacers shot 70 percent in the first quarter and held off a fourth-quarter rally to beat the Washington Wizards 110-102 Tuesday night.

Jalen Rose had 35 points and matched his season high with 12 assists, Reggie Miller scored 27 points, and Sam Perkins had season-highs with 16 points and nine rebounds as the Pacers had a fourth-quarter lead cut to three before getting their first road win since Feb. 23.

"They definitely got our attention," coach Isiah Thomas said. "But thanks to Sam, Reggie and Jalen, we calmed things down, made a few shots and went back on a roll again."

With Boston beating Atlanta, the Pacers needed the victory to remain in a tie with the Celtics for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Indiana plays at Boston on Friday.

"It means a lot to do well on this road trip, especially with Boston coming up," Rose said. "We wanted to try to gain some momentum today and hopefully in the Atlanta game (Thursday) to really solidify our position. Then when we go into Boston, we've got to take care of business."

The Pacers shot 55 percent overall to beat an undermanned Washington team that allowed more than 100 points for the fourth time in five games. The Wizards, who let Utah shoot 82 percent in the first quarter on Saturday, entered the game last in the NBA in field goal defense and 3-point defense and next-to-last in points allowed.

"We've got to understand that we've got to come out in the first quarter and really dig down on defense," Wizards guard Richard Hamilton said. "We can't always play catch-up, that takes a lot of energy. If we don't put ourselves behind in the first quarter, the game might have been turned around."

Washington played without injured guards Chris Whitney, Mitch Richmond and Hubert Davis, leaving natural shooting guard Hamilton to play point guard and Laron Profit to make his first start of the season and the second in his career at shooting guard. Hamilton had one of his best career games and led the Wizards with 31 points, while Courtney Alexander scored 23 playing small forward.

The Pacers, given open lanes and favorable matchups, led 35-21 after the first quarter and answered every Wizards run to make it 58-47 at halftime and 83-71 after three.

But Hamilton led the Wizards on a 13-5 run to open the fourth quarter and make it interesting. Perkins extended the lead back to eight with a 3-pointer before Hamilton responded again with a layup and a baseline jumper.

Alexander's runner made it 101-98 with 2:38 to play, but Al Harrington got the lead back to five with a dunk off an offensive rebound. Christian Laettner made two free throws to close the deficit to three again, but the Pacers made 5 of 6 free throws in the final minute to keep the lead safe.

Game notes
Indiana's Travis Best did not play because of a sore left heel. ... Washington's Michael Smith, back from a two-game suspension for losing his temper on the bench, this time vented at the officials instead of his coaches: He got called for a technical for protesting a no-call in the second quarter.

Send this story to a friend
ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard

Indiana Clubhouse

Washington Clubhouse

RECAPS
Indiana 110
Washington 102

Boston 115
Atlanta 112

Toronto 101
Miami 92

Houston 109
Utah 86

San Antonio 93
Charlotte 79

LA Clippers 101
Detroit 94

Sacramento 124
New York 117


ESPN.com:  HELP |  ADVERTISER INFO |  CONTACT US |  TOOLS |  SITE MAP
Copyright ©2000 ESPN Internet Group. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information are applicable to this site. Employment opportunities at ESPN.com.