NBA

Cold Pacers let Pistons tie series

By wire services
Published May 16, 2005

INDIANAPOLIS - Over a span of almost eight minutes, the Pacers managed just one point. In a sequence of 19 shots, they missed 18.

The Pacers' poor shooting put them in a big early hole. And a brief third-quarter comeback was all they could manage the rest of the way as Chauncey Billups scored 29 to lead the Pistons to an 89-76 victory Sunday, tying their best-of-seven East semifinal series at two games.

"This has turned into a great series," Billups said. "But the pressure is always going to be on us. We're the (defending) champs."

Up 9-2, Indiana missed its next 13 shots. And with the nine points by Billups and baskets by Antonio McDyess and Richard Hamilton, Detroit made it 21-10 before a basket by Jermaine O'Neal, his first after 14 consecutive misses since the first quarter of Game 3.

Overall, Detroit went on a 19-1 run.

Down 47-34 at halftime, the Pacers cut it to 56-50 with five minutes left in the third. But the Pistons responded with a 16-2 run, capped by Tayshaun Prince's 3-pointer that made it 72-52.

"It was a tough little stretch when they got back in the game. We knew they would make a run," Billups said. "But I wanted to combat that by being extra aggressive. I kind of took it on myself, and they followed me."

O'Neal, continuing a playoff shooting slump, shot 4-of-15 from the field and finished with 10 points.

"I was terrible. I didn't do anything right," said O'Neal, who has shot 23 percent in the past two games. "It is a cycle in basketball. It always comes back to you. I'm a true believer you should never get too high or too low. At some point, I feel it's going to come back to me."

Reggie Miller, who clinched the Game 3 victory with a basket and four free throws during the final minute, had seven points on 2-for-6 shooting and missed all four of his 3-pointers.

"They really raised the level of their game. Unfortunately, after a great start, we struggled," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "Some of it, the decision-making, wasn't great. We had some good shots but couldn't hit a bull in the rear end with a bass fiddle."

Seattle played without All-Star Rashard Lewis, who sprained a toe on his left foot during Game 3 on Thursday.

Allen, a guard moved to small forward to replace Lewis, made 10 of 16 shots. And after the final buzzer, Reggie Evans held Lewis' No.7 jersey aloft for a midcourt celebration.

Seattle opened the game with a 12-4 run and blocked four shots and forced seven turnovers during the first quarter.

Tim Duncan, who scored a game-high 35, scored eight of San Antonio's first 12 during the second half, helping it erase a 46-40 halftime deficit. He tied it at 52 on a dunk 3:36 in.

After the teams traded baskets, Seattle broke it open with a 12-1 run. Allen scored seven and Ridnour four during the run. Ridnour capped the quarter with a jumper, 3-pointer and runner to make it 82-66.

Nash scored 23 during the third quarter, including 16 in a row for Phoenix, but he committed nine turnovers.

Nowitzki entered shooting 38 percent during the playoffs. (His season average was 46 percent.) And he was 16-of-42 the past two games. Sunday, he was 9-of-15.

Dallas led by eight after the first quarter and 16 at halftime. Quentin Richardson drove for a dunk that made it 95-86 early in the fourth.

Just more than a minute later, Amare Stoudemire picked up his fifth foul when Howard drove for a reserve layup that made it 99-86. Phoenix didn't get any closer during the final 10 minutes.

Miami waits on O'Neal

After sweeping another series, Miami's concern now is getting center Shaquille O'Neal back.

"Obviously we're better with him," forward Udonis Haslem said of O'Neal, who bruised his right thigh April 17. "But if for some strange reason he's not healthy, we've got to push on and carry him like he's been carrying us all season."

O'Neal missed the final two games against the Wizards. Coach Stan Van Gundy gave the team Sunday and today off, and the Heat won't start the East final until May23, at the earliest.

"It allows the baddest man in basketball to get healthy," Eddie Jones said of the break.

After expressing optimism after Thursday's Game 3, O'Neal did not comment Saturday and was unavailable Sunday.

[Last modified May 16, 2005, 01:22:06]