Pooh
11-12-2003, 02:12 AM
Vin Baker And Celtics End Pacers Winning Streak. 78-76
By Johnnie Clay – Pacers Insider
November 11, 2003 - 10:15 PM
Sometime during the thrid quarter of tonight's game against the Boston Celtics, the Indiana Pacers were probably saying to themselves, "this can't possibly be happening again." Again meaning a big lead by the Pacers shot down by Celtics. Only this time, "again" wasn't Paul Pierce, it was Vin Baker.
Baker, whose game was so far gone he had his own milk carton factory, scored 12 pts, including a 20-ft jump shot with 20 seconds left to snap the Pacers' five game winning streak tonight, 78-76 at Conseco Fieldhouse.
The Pacers came out on fire early as Jermaine O'Neal had 21 points and 9 rebounds before the half ended, giving the Pacers a 48-34 lead at halftime.
After a first half that was one of the best of the season, the Pacers produced a second half that was one of the worst. Limited to 28 points on 32% percent shooting after taking a 14-point halftime lead, the Pacers watched as the Celtics offense come to life.
Boston outscored the Pacers 25-14 during that quarter, mainly because Jermaine O'Neal received his fourth foul with 7:23 left in the third, forcing him to the bench. O'Neal, who led the Pacers with 25 points and 11 rebounds could only look on as the Celtics began their furious comeback.
Boston's Raef LaFrentz hit a baseline jumper early in the fourth to give Boston the lead at 63-62. That shot came in the middle of a 9-0 run by Boston to open the quarter that pushed the lead to 68-62, and started a back-and-forth final period between the two teams.
The Pacers came back to regain the lead 70-68, the game went back and forth after that, with the lead exchanging five times before concluding.
Jermaine O'Neal's layup with 37 seconds to play gave Indiana its last lead at 76-75. Then Baker's shot returned the lead back to the Celtics at 77-76. It came down then to O'Neal and the Celtics. O'Neal's shot bounced then rolled around the rim, before falling out. Eric Williams of the Celtics retrieved the loose ball to help seal the victory and bring an end to the Pacers' five game winning streak.
Simply put, it was a team in the Celtics who caught fire late, against a team in the Pacers whose fireplace ran out of wood and was extinguished.
The only other Pacers in double figures were Jeff Fosters' 10 points, 6 rebounds and Al Harrington's 17 points, 6 rebounds. Ron Artest, the Pacers' leader in scoring was held to 8 points and 6 rebounds.
As a team, the Pacers ended up shooting 41% percent (28-68) which was a far cry from their blistering 51% percent at the end of the first half.
Paul Pierce led Celtics with 19 points to go along with Vin Bakers' 12.
The Pacers (6-2) are now off until Friday, when the face the Seattle Supersonics at Conseco Fieldhouse. The Sonics defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves this evening, 89-87 in Minnesota to run their record to 4-1.
Gametime Friday is at 7:30pm (EST)
By Johnnie Clay – Pacers Insider
November 11, 2003 - 10:15 PM
Sometime during the thrid quarter of tonight's game against the Boston Celtics, the Indiana Pacers were probably saying to themselves, "this can't possibly be happening again." Again meaning a big lead by the Pacers shot down by Celtics. Only this time, "again" wasn't Paul Pierce, it was Vin Baker.
Baker, whose game was so far gone he had his own milk carton factory, scored 12 pts, including a 20-ft jump shot with 20 seconds left to snap the Pacers' five game winning streak tonight, 78-76 at Conseco Fieldhouse.
The Pacers came out on fire early as Jermaine O'Neal had 21 points and 9 rebounds before the half ended, giving the Pacers a 48-34 lead at halftime.
After a first half that was one of the best of the season, the Pacers produced a second half that was one of the worst. Limited to 28 points on 32% percent shooting after taking a 14-point halftime lead, the Pacers watched as the Celtics offense come to life.
Boston outscored the Pacers 25-14 during that quarter, mainly because Jermaine O'Neal received his fourth foul with 7:23 left in the third, forcing him to the bench. O'Neal, who led the Pacers with 25 points and 11 rebounds could only look on as the Celtics began their furious comeback.
Boston's Raef LaFrentz hit a baseline jumper early in the fourth to give Boston the lead at 63-62. That shot came in the middle of a 9-0 run by Boston to open the quarter that pushed the lead to 68-62, and started a back-and-forth final period between the two teams.
The Pacers came back to regain the lead 70-68, the game went back and forth after that, with the lead exchanging five times before concluding.
Jermaine O'Neal's layup with 37 seconds to play gave Indiana its last lead at 76-75. Then Baker's shot returned the lead back to the Celtics at 77-76. It came down then to O'Neal and the Celtics. O'Neal's shot bounced then rolled around the rim, before falling out. Eric Williams of the Celtics retrieved the loose ball to help seal the victory and bring an end to the Pacers' five game winning streak.
Simply put, it was a team in the Celtics who caught fire late, against a team in the Pacers whose fireplace ran out of wood and was extinguished.
The only other Pacers in double figures were Jeff Fosters' 10 points, 6 rebounds and Al Harrington's 17 points, 6 rebounds. Ron Artest, the Pacers' leader in scoring was held to 8 points and 6 rebounds.
As a team, the Pacers ended up shooting 41% percent (28-68) which was a far cry from their blistering 51% percent at the end of the first half.
Paul Pierce led Celtics with 19 points to go along with Vin Bakers' 12.
The Pacers (6-2) are now off until Friday, when the face the Seattle Supersonics at Conseco Fieldhouse. The Sonics defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves this evening, 89-87 in Minnesota to run their record to 4-1.
Gametime Friday is at 7:30pm (EST)