Pooh
03-29-2004, 02:31 AM
By Johnnie Clay – Pacers Insider.
March 28, 2004 – 10:30 PM.
The Indiana Pacers moved one step closer to clinching the number one slot in the Eastern Conference this evening, by defeating the Miami Heat 87-80 at Conseco Fieldhouse.
The Pacers also welcomed back Jermaine O’Neal, who sat out the past two games with a bruise on his left knee. O’Neal showed no signs of rust as he led the Pacers with 23 points and 14 rebounds.
“I give a lot of credit to Jermaine O’Neal for stepping in there and playing today. His knee is better; but it’s still a little sore and it’s tough to come in there after missing a couple of games.” Coach Rick Carlisle said about O’Neal’s quick return.
Indiana ran out to their usual big lead, only to see the Heat (who have been playing well as of late) claw there way back into the game, trailing by only five points (39-34) midway through the second quarter. Just as it seemed as if the Heat were ready to seize the lead, Jamaal Tinsley sparked an 11-6 Pacers’ run to give them a ten point lead, 50-40 at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Pacers went cold. That bad shooting allowed the Heat to go on a run that eventually tied the contest at 65-65. The Pacers managed to regroup themselves and led at the end of the third quarter 70-65.
Ron Artest, fresh from a 32-point night in Orlando, scored just 18 points on 3-16 shooting. However, Artest managed to pull down 12 rebounds to go along with 6 steals. Afterwards, Artest talked about his off night shooting.
“I didn’t shoot the ball well tonight. I think I was trying to do too much by myself.” Artest said. “I didn’t play the best; but we won. I think we must continue to tighten the defense, and move the ball around a little bit more to each other and continue to work as a team to get us to our goal.”
During the fourth quarter, the Heat would make an attempt to take the lead, only to see the Pacers push out just enough to keep them at arms’ length. The Heat’s first attempt occurred early in the quarter. After cutting the lead down to just three points 75-72, the Heat watched as Jermaine O’Neal hit consecutive baskets to push the lead back up to seven points.
The second attempt occurred later, when Reggie Miller’s three-pointer put the Pacers up nine points, 83-74. The Heat closed the deficit down to just five, only to see Ron Artest and the Pacers’ defense clamp down on them.
“It’s always going to be hard to play Miami. They have such a strong-willed team.” Coach Rick Carlisle said afterwards. “It’s a nice win and we’re one step closer to the division. It’s a quality win, given that Miami had won 10 of the last 11. We found a way to win despite some thrill seeking at the end. The reason we were able to win the game was we were able to put together some defense for the first time in a while, some playoff-caliber defense. Miami is a physical team and if you meet that level of physical play, you can get to the line."
Carlisle also talked about Artest’s performance at the end, to secure the game for the Pacers.
"Its’ kind of becoming common place for him to make huge defensive plays like that. He’s been doing that all year, making the big play, getting the big steal, getting the big stop.”
For the night, the Pacers shot only 35% (34-68) from the floor and 79% (34-43) from the free-throw line.
Ron Artest and Jermaine O’Neal were the only Pacers in double-figures, while the others simply flirted with the notion. Jeff Foster’s streak of double double’s ended tonight, scoring 8 points and pulling down just 5 rebounds. Reggie Miller’s only basket was a three-pointer during the third quarter, a free throw late, gave him 4 points for the night. Jamaal Tinsley rounded out the field by scoring 8 points, and handing out 3 assists.
Al Harrington, Fred Jones and Anthony Johnson each scored 9, 9, and 8 points respectively to lead the bench.
Up next for the Pacers, a home-and-home back-to-back against a team the Pacers have yet to beat this season begins Tuesday night in Milwaukee against the Bucks. Milwaukee is 2-0 against the Pacers this season, averaging 97.0 points.
This will be the Pacers' first look at the Bucks since they were involved in the three-team trade that sent Tim Thomas to New York and brought Keith Van Horn to Milwaukee. The teams meet again Wednesday night in Conseco Fieldhouse.
Game Time is at 8pm (EST).
March 28, 2004 – 10:30 PM.
The Indiana Pacers moved one step closer to clinching the number one slot in the Eastern Conference this evening, by defeating the Miami Heat 87-80 at Conseco Fieldhouse.
The Pacers also welcomed back Jermaine O’Neal, who sat out the past two games with a bruise on his left knee. O’Neal showed no signs of rust as he led the Pacers with 23 points and 14 rebounds.
“I give a lot of credit to Jermaine O’Neal for stepping in there and playing today. His knee is better; but it’s still a little sore and it’s tough to come in there after missing a couple of games.” Coach Rick Carlisle said about O’Neal’s quick return.
Indiana ran out to their usual big lead, only to see the Heat (who have been playing well as of late) claw there way back into the game, trailing by only five points (39-34) midway through the second quarter. Just as it seemed as if the Heat were ready to seize the lead, Jamaal Tinsley sparked an 11-6 Pacers’ run to give them a ten point lead, 50-40 at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Pacers went cold. That bad shooting allowed the Heat to go on a run that eventually tied the contest at 65-65. The Pacers managed to regroup themselves and led at the end of the third quarter 70-65.
Ron Artest, fresh from a 32-point night in Orlando, scored just 18 points on 3-16 shooting. However, Artest managed to pull down 12 rebounds to go along with 6 steals. Afterwards, Artest talked about his off night shooting.
“I didn’t shoot the ball well tonight. I think I was trying to do too much by myself.” Artest said. “I didn’t play the best; but we won. I think we must continue to tighten the defense, and move the ball around a little bit more to each other and continue to work as a team to get us to our goal.”
During the fourth quarter, the Heat would make an attempt to take the lead, only to see the Pacers push out just enough to keep them at arms’ length. The Heat’s first attempt occurred early in the quarter. After cutting the lead down to just three points 75-72, the Heat watched as Jermaine O’Neal hit consecutive baskets to push the lead back up to seven points.
The second attempt occurred later, when Reggie Miller’s three-pointer put the Pacers up nine points, 83-74. The Heat closed the deficit down to just five, only to see Ron Artest and the Pacers’ defense clamp down on them.
“It’s always going to be hard to play Miami. They have such a strong-willed team.” Coach Rick Carlisle said afterwards. “It’s a nice win and we’re one step closer to the division. It’s a quality win, given that Miami had won 10 of the last 11. We found a way to win despite some thrill seeking at the end. The reason we were able to win the game was we were able to put together some defense for the first time in a while, some playoff-caliber defense. Miami is a physical team and if you meet that level of physical play, you can get to the line."
Carlisle also talked about Artest’s performance at the end, to secure the game for the Pacers.
"Its’ kind of becoming common place for him to make huge defensive plays like that. He’s been doing that all year, making the big play, getting the big steal, getting the big stop.”
For the night, the Pacers shot only 35% (34-68) from the floor and 79% (34-43) from the free-throw line.
Ron Artest and Jermaine O’Neal were the only Pacers in double-figures, while the others simply flirted with the notion. Jeff Foster’s streak of double double’s ended tonight, scoring 8 points and pulling down just 5 rebounds. Reggie Miller’s only basket was a three-pointer during the third quarter, a free throw late, gave him 4 points for the night. Jamaal Tinsley rounded out the field by scoring 8 points, and handing out 3 assists.
Al Harrington, Fred Jones and Anthony Johnson each scored 9, 9, and 8 points respectively to lead the bench.
Up next for the Pacers, a home-and-home back-to-back against a team the Pacers have yet to beat this season begins Tuesday night in Milwaukee against the Bucks. Milwaukee is 2-0 against the Pacers this season, averaging 97.0 points.
This will be the Pacers' first look at the Bucks since they were involved in the three-team trade that sent Tim Thomas to New York and brought Keith Van Horn to Milwaukee. The teams meet again Wednesday night in Conseco Fieldhouse.
Game Time is at 8pm (EST).