Pacers Even Series With Comeback Win Over Pistons
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The NBA’s most resilient team bounced back again.
Jermaine O’Neal scored 22 points, Reggie Miller had 19, and Jeff Foster grabbed 20 rebounds last night to lead the Indiana Pacers past the Detroit Pistons 92-83 in Game 2, tying their Eastern Conference semifinal series at one game apiece.
The Pacers trailed for two-plus quarters before taking over with an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter.
O’Neal prevented the Pacers from trailing by more than 15 in the first quarter with eight points, then led their surge in the third with 10 points.
Miller made a running jumper and a 3-pointer to put Indiana ahead for the first time with 4:10 left in the third. But the Pistons scored the last six points of the quarter to take a 69-68 lead.
After five more lead changes, the score was tied at 77 midway through the fourth quarter. Miller’s 3-pointer put Indiana ahead 82-77 with just under five minutes left.
The Pistons had won eight straight home games in the playoffs, dating to last year’s conference finals.
Foster gave the Pacers a huge lift off the bench with 14 points, Jamaal Tinsley had 12 points and 12 assists, and Stephen Jackson added 13 points.
Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince scored 24, Rasheed Wallace and Richard Hamilton each had 14, and Chauncey Billups scored 13.
Many wrote the Pacers off when their November 19 brawl with the Pistons to unprecedented suspensions, but the Pacers didn’t let the loss of Ron Artest and others – or a slew of injuries later in the season – devastate them. Indiana even pulled off a rare road win in a Game 7 of the first round at Boston to advance to play the defending NBA champions.
Miller, who plans to retire after the season, scored just two points in each of the first two quarters before closing strong in the second half. He scored six points in the series opener.
The Pacers said they would do anything – and they did – to try to slow down Hamilton after he scored 28 points Monday.
Miller started out guarding Hamilton, then Jackson did before the Pacers used a zone, but none of the adjustments worked as the Pistons jumped out to a 24-11 lead. Detroit was ahead 33-18 after the first quarter with Prince scoring 11 – three more than he had in Game 1 – and Hamilton adding eight points.
The Pistons led 50-40 at halftime, then fell behind by five in the third before going back ahead.
