Sports

NBA

Pacers even series with road victory

Associated Press
Published May 12, 2005

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AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - The NBA's most resilient team bounced back again.

Jermaine O'Neal scored 22 and Reggie Miller 19 on Wednesday to lead Indiana past Detroit 92-83 in Game 2, tying their East semifinal series at one.

"I don't think any pro team - in any sport - can handle what we've handled," O'Neal said. "Our goals haven't changed. Our goals are to get to the NBA Finals and win a championship. We still believe."

Many wrote off the Pacers when their Nov.19 brawl with the Pistons and their fans led to unprecedented suspensions, but the Pacers didn't let the loss of Ron Artest and others and a slew of injuries dissuade them.

Indiana pulled off a road win in Game 7 of the first round against Boston to advance to play the defending NBA champions, who ended the Pacers' season in the conference final last season.

"These guys have been tough. They've been through a lot," Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. "When they get knocked down, they tend to get back up fighting."

After losing Game 1 by 15, the Pacers trailed by 15 after the first quarter and didn't lead until 4:10 left in the third, when Miller's 3-pointer capped an 11-4 run.

There were five lead changes in the fourth before the score was tied at 77 midway through. Miller's 3-pointer, part of an 11-0 run, put Indiana ahead 82-77 with just less than five minutes left.

"They did all the effort things that we did in Game 1," Pistons coach Larry Brown said. "When the game really meant something, they made every single effort play."

Stern to talk to Congress

NEW YORK - Commissioner David Stern will testify before Congress next week about his league's drug-testing policy, making him the third head of a major U.S. sport called before lawmakers investigating steroids.

League vice president Rick Buchanan also will appear before the House Government Reform Committee on May19, and the league said others also might testify.

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig, other officials and current and former players testified March17 and NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue on April27.

Lawmakers have said they are drafting legislation to establish uniform drug-testing rules for major U.S. sports.

The NBA currently suspends first-time offenders for five games. But only two players, Matt Geiger and Don MacLean, are believed to have been suspended since the program was implemented in 1999.

Stern has said he would like to strengthen testing in the new collective bargaining agreement, which is being negotiated.

BULLS: B.J. Armstrong resigned as a special assistant to general manager John Paxson to pursue other opportunities, the team said. Armstrong, part of three title teams, spent five seasons with Chicago's front office.

WIZARDS: Kwame Brown's suspension for the rest of the playoffs won't be lifted, leaving the frontcourt thin after an injury to Etan Thomas. Brown was suspended a week ago for what the team called "philosophical differences."

Coach Eddie Jordan said he doesn't expect Thomas to play in tonight's Game 3 against the Heat. He left during the second quarter Tuesday with an abdominal strain, the same injury that cost him 32 games at the start of the season.

With Thomas hurt and Brown suspended, the Wizards are left with just two big men, Brendan Haywood and Michael Ruffin, to battle Shaquille O'Neal.

[Last modified May 12, 2005, 00:31:16]

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