Pooh
11-02-2003, 03:19 AM
Reserves Huge As Pacers Defeat Hawks 103-99 In O.T.
By Johnnie Clay - Pacers Insider
November 1, 2003 11:15pm.
At the end of the first half, the Indiana Pacers were virtually left for the scrap heap. Down 49-35, the Pacers offense had failed to get on track.
Still reeling from that devastating and embarassing 93-79 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, the Pacers shot a pitiful 32% in the first half against the Atlanta Hawks. With Reggie Miller not in the lineup and in dress clothes, Coach Rick Carlisle tinkered with the starting five. Scot Pollard was replaced by Jeff Foster, and Fred Jones took the place of the injured Miller.
Those changes looked to be useless after the disasterous first half tonight. But they don't just play one half, they play two. In the second half, the Pacers resembled the old Celtics and Pistons of the '80's and early '90's.
A smothering defense and huge play from their bench, (namely Al Harrington and Anthony Johnson) the Pacers over came a large deficit to defeat the Atlanta Hawks in a thriller at Phillips Arena this evening 103-99 in overtime.
The Hawks came out of the gate smoking. Led by Jason Terry's (who later got ejected from the game for throwing an elbow at Anthony Johnson in O.T.) 29 points, the Hawks jumped all over the Pacers, almost running them out of the arena.
The beginning of the second half didn't show any progress as Jermaine O'Neal quickly picked up his fourth foul and went to the bench. In a sense, that move woke up the Pacers who responded to their leader being on the bench.
A dominating third quarter by Al Harrington and clutch rebounds by Ron Artest and Jeff Foster, the Pacers clawed their way back to tie the game 67-67 at the end of the quarter. That set the stage for a thrilling final quarter and overtime period.
"It was a gut check at halftime." Coach Rick Carlisle said. "They fired themselves up and put together a great third quarter. Two key guys really stepped up for us, Anthony Johnson and Fred Jones, with huge contributions. Jermaine had a tough night because he was in foul trouble, but the bench brought us energy and helped us stay in it and get the lead. We just found a way."
The lead went back and forth as the Pacers came out on a 11-3 run and threatened to run away with the game, only to have the Hawks cut the lead back to a few points, then tie it on a dramatic shot to send it into overtime. That's when Anthony Johnson took over, hitting clutch shots and a three-pointer late in the overtime to put the Pacers up for good.
The game was flawed late when Jason Terry of the Hawks was ejected with less than 30 seconds left in the game by elbowing Johnson in the face. Johnson hit his foul shots to seal up the victory for the Pacers who raise their record to 2-1.
Ron Artest led the Pacers this evening with 22 points, 12 rebounds. But it was Al Harrington's 20 points, 13 rebounds and Anthony Johnson's 15 points and 6 assits that really made the difference tonight. Jermaine O'Neal also had 20 points and 6 rebounds but was in foul trouble early. Overall, the Pacers had five players in double figures this evening and ever basket was needed in this comeback tonight.
The Pacers now are off until Tuesday, where they host the Denver Nuggets, a team who defeated them twice in the pre-season and who just recently defeated the World Champion San Antonio Spurs handing them their first loss of the season. Led by Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets are a much improved team from last year.
With tonight's thrilling win behind them, perhaps the Pacers now have found the right formula and lineup that will propel them down the road this season.
By Johnnie Clay - Pacers Insider
November 1, 2003 11:15pm.
At the end of the first half, the Indiana Pacers were virtually left for the scrap heap. Down 49-35, the Pacers offense had failed to get on track.
Still reeling from that devastating and embarassing 93-79 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, the Pacers shot a pitiful 32% in the first half against the Atlanta Hawks. With Reggie Miller not in the lineup and in dress clothes, Coach Rick Carlisle tinkered with the starting five. Scot Pollard was replaced by Jeff Foster, and Fred Jones took the place of the injured Miller.
Those changes looked to be useless after the disasterous first half tonight. But they don't just play one half, they play two. In the second half, the Pacers resembled the old Celtics and Pistons of the '80's and early '90's.
A smothering defense and huge play from their bench, (namely Al Harrington and Anthony Johnson) the Pacers over came a large deficit to defeat the Atlanta Hawks in a thriller at Phillips Arena this evening 103-99 in overtime.
The Hawks came out of the gate smoking. Led by Jason Terry's (who later got ejected from the game for throwing an elbow at Anthony Johnson in O.T.) 29 points, the Hawks jumped all over the Pacers, almost running them out of the arena.
The beginning of the second half didn't show any progress as Jermaine O'Neal quickly picked up his fourth foul and went to the bench. In a sense, that move woke up the Pacers who responded to their leader being on the bench.
A dominating third quarter by Al Harrington and clutch rebounds by Ron Artest and Jeff Foster, the Pacers clawed their way back to tie the game 67-67 at the end of the quarter. That set the stage for a thrilling final quarter and overtime period.
"It was a gut check at halftime." Coach Rick Carlisle said. "They fired themselves up and put together a great third quarter. Two key guys really stepped up for us, Anthony Johnson and Fred Jones, with huge contributions. Jermaine had a tough night because he was in foul trouble, but the bench brought us energy and helped us stay in it and get the lead. We just found a way."
The lead went back and forth as the Pacers came out on a 11-3 run and threatened to run away with the game, only to have the Hawks cut the lead back to a few points, then tie it on a dramatic shot to send it into overtime. That's when Anthony Johnson took over, hitting clutch shots and a three-pointer late in the overtime to put the Pacers up for good.
The game was flawed late when Jason Terry of the Hawks was ejected with less than 30 seconds left in the game by elbowing Johnson in the face. Johnson hit his foul shots to seal up the victory for the Pacers who raise their record to 2-1.
Ron Artest led the Pacers this evening with 22 points, 12 rebounds. But it was Al Harrington's 20 points, 13 rebounds and Anthony Johnson's 15 points and 6 assits that really made the difference tonight. Jermaine O'Neal also had 20 points and 6 rebounds but was in foul trouble early. Overall, the Pacers had five players in double figures this evening and ever basket was needed in this comeback tonight.
The Pacers now are off until Tuesday, where they host the Denver Nuggets, a team who defeated them twice in the pre-season and who just recently defeated the World Champion San Antonio Spurs handing them their first loss of the season. Led by Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets are a much improved team from last year.
With tonight's thrilling win behind them, perhaps the Pacers now have found the right formula and lineup that will propel them down the road this season.