By Johnnie Clay - Pacers Insider
December 17, 2003 - 11:30 p.m.

The Pacers didn't allow Tracy McGrady to beat them. Unfortunately, they couldn't do much about Juwan Howard, Drew Gooden, Keith Bogans and Rod Strickland. Those four unlikely heroes combined for 65 points on 27 of 44 shooting (.614) and produced the final five points of the game as Orlando handed the Pacers a 94-90 defeat Wednesday night, snapping Indiana's eight-game home winning streak.

Jermaine O'Neal led the Pacers with 24 points and 17 rebounds but it wasn't enough as the Magic won their fourth game out of last six.

The Pacers didn't have many problems getting inside Orlando's zone defense for good shots throughout the first half. Converting, on the other hand, proved to be a major vexation. The Pacers were 13 of 45 from the floor (.289) in the half, including 2 of 13 (.154) from the arc.

Reggie Miller missed all five of his treys, and Ron Artest was 1 of 6. Jermaine O'Neal had 16 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks in the half, but was 5 of 15 from the floor. Orlando's offense was sparked not by Tracy McGrady (eight points) but by reserve forward Drew Gooden, who scored 12 in 14 active minutes. Despite the poor shooting, the Pacers trailed just 45-39 at the break.

When the Pacers are on, the third quarter is generally when they flip the switch, but there was no electricity this time. The period was crystallized by a late sequence. Artest stripped Tracy McGrady and drove for a dunk that cut the lead to 61-55 and brought the crowd to its feet. But McGrady came right back with a 3-pointer, then stripped Artest and drove for a dunk of his own to quickly push the margin to 11 and silence the crowd. The Pacers cut it to 68-63 entering the fourth.

Fighting an uphill battle throughout the second half, the Pacers trailed 80-73 with 7:30 remaining. But they began climbing back from the 3-point line, as Austin Croshere hit a pair and Reggie Miller hit one in a 17-9 run that peaked when Ron Artest scored from the post to put the Pacers up 90-89 with 2:08 remaining.

The teams traded empty possessions until Rod Strickland hit a short jumper to put Orlando ahead 91-90 with 14.4 seconds left. The Pacers then got an excellent shot, as Al Harrington was wide open from 15 feet, but he short-armed the jumper. He then allowed Drew Gooden to sneak inside him to rebound Keith Bogans' missed free throw with 6.9 seconds left, closing the door on the Pacers' chances.

"Our hope was to get a clean look. I’d run that play again." Pacers' Coach Rick Carlisle said afterwards. "Al’s made some big shots for this team and will make some big shots. But I don’t think you point to one play at the end of the game.”

Rick Carlisle also voiced his opinion on tonight's loss.

“It’s tough to lose at home; but you’ve got to give Orlando credit. They executed and made plays the whole game." Carlisle said. "Orlando showed some real heart tonight. They earned the win. I thought their collective will was stronger than ours through a 48-minute game. When you’re leading the East, you’re going to get everybody’s best game. Teams will come at you with nothing to lose. We’ve got to see if we’re up to it. We’ve got to bounce back and get ready for Detroit"

The Pacers did not play well at either end, shooting .363 while allowing Orlando to shoot .487. They fell into the jump-shooting trap against Orlando's zone and paid for it, going 6 of 26 from the arc. O'Neal was the offensive leader with 24 points, adding 17 rebounds and five blocks. Artest scored 18 but was 7 of 18 from the field. He did have four steals.

Austin Croshere had 13 points and four rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench, and Al Harrington had 12 points and 12 rebounds, though he was 5 of 15 from the floor. Reggie Miller suffered a nightmarish 1 of 10 shooting night, with all but one of his attempts from the arc. The Pacers were outrebounded 50-47.

After a 14-2 start, the Pacers have alternated wins and losses for the past 10 games but still stand atop the East at 19-7 overall, 10-3 at home.

Next for the Pacers, a visit from former Pacers' Coach Larry Brown, who brings his Detroit Pistons to Conseco Fieldhouse for a nationally televised (ESPN) rematch on Friday night. The Pacers opened the season withn a 89-87 victory in Rick Carlisle's return to Detroit on Oct. 29 as Ron Artest and Jermaine O'Neal combined for 43 points and the defense held Detroit to .392 shooting.

Gametime Friday is at 8pm (EST)