BOSTON – The Pacers are going back home to Indiana with a chance to finish off the Celtics.

Jermaine O’Neal scored 19 points and Stephen Jackson hit a big 3-pointer that helped hold off a Celtics’ comeback and give the Indiana Pacers a 90-85 win and a 3-2 lead in their playoff series last night.

Boston had whittled a 15-point, third-quarter to two after Paul Pierce’s 3-pointer made it 80-78 with 4:26 left. A basket by O’Neal made it 82-78 before Pierce sank a jumper. Then Jackson scored the last of his 15 points on a 3-pointer with 2:38 remaining for an 85-80 edge.

Pierce and Dale Davis traded free throws and Marcus Banks cut the lead to 86-83 with a layup with 28 seconds remaining, but the Pacers got the last four points on two free throws each by Anthony Johnson and Reggie Miller.

The Pacers now have a chance to win the best-of-seven series tomorrow night.

Both teams had key players back. Jamaal Tinsley started at point guard for Indiana after missing the last 29 regular-season games and the first four playoff games with a bruised left foot. Antoine Walker returned for Boston following a one-game suspension for grabbing referee Tom Washington late in Game 3 after being charged with his second technical foul.

Tinsley had six points, seven assists, and five steals in 28 minutes. Walker had 10 points and seven assists.

Pierce led Boston with 27 points and Ricky Davis had 19.

Indiana’s defense was much better than it was in its worst playoff loss ever, 110-79 in Game 4 on Saturday night, when the Celtics hit 57% of their shots. On Tuesday, Boston made 46% of its shots in the first half and was less effective near the basket than it had been in the previous game.

The Pacers took a 6-5 lead on O’Neal’s dunk 3:17 into the game. They built that to 13 points several times late in the half, the last at 45-32, and led 50-42 at halftime.

Indiana took its biggest lead, 67-52 with 4:10 left in the third quarter. Then Boston mounted its rally, outscoring the Pacers 13-3 to cut the lead to 70-65 going into the fourth quarter. Nine of the Celtics’ points came on free throws as they became more aggressive driving to the basket.

But Boston was hurt by 21 turnovers, six of them by Pierce, as the Pacers’ aggressive defense came up with 16 steals.

Miller took just three shots in the first half. Davis, Gary Payton, and Delonte West took turns guarding him throughout the game.

Boston is 23-7 all time in seven-game series that have been tied 2-2.