Pacers, Mavericks win

AP

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Indiana Pacers forward Jermaine ONeal pulls down a rebound as Detroit Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace goes for the ball during the second quarter of Game 2 in the Eastern Conference semifinals at the Palace in Auburn Hills, Mich. Photo: AP

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (AP) – Jermaine O’Neal scored 22 points, Reggie Miller had 19 and Jeff Foster grabbed 20 rebounds Wednesday to lead the Indiana Pacers past the Detroit Pistons 92–83 in Game 2, tying their Eastern Conference semifinal series at one game each.

The Pacers trailed for two–plus quarters before taking over with an 11–0 run in the fourth quarter. They lost 96–81 in Game 1.

“I don’t think any pro team – in any sport – can handle what we’ve handled,” O’Neal said before getting on the team bus.

“Our goals haven’t changed. Our goals are to get to the NBA Finals, and win a championship. We still believe.”

O’Neal prevented the Pacers from trailing by more than 15 in the first quarter with eight points, then led their surge in the third with 10 points.

Miller made a running jumper and a 3–pointer to put Indiana ahead for the first time with 4:10 left in the third. The Pistons scored the last six points of the quarter to take a 69–68 lead.

“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 five more lead changes, the score was tied at 77 midway through the fourth quarter.

Miller’s 3–pointer put Indiana ahead 82–77 with just under 5 minutes left.

The Pistons had won eight straight home games in the playoffs, dating to last year’s conference finals.

Foster gave the Pacers a huge lift off the bench with 14 points, Jamaal Tinsley had 12 points and 12 assists and Stephen Jackson added 13 points. Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince scored 24, Rasheed Wallace and Richard Hamilton each had 14 and Chauncey Billups scored 13.

The next two games in the best–of–seven series are in Indianapolis on Friday night and Sunday afternoon.

Mavericks 108, Suns 106

In Phoenix, Dirk Nowitzki sank a four–meter (12–foot) shot with 6.8 seconds remaining to give Dallas a rugged victory over Phoenix, squaring their best–of–seven Western Conference semifinal series 1–1.

Quentin Richardson’s 3–point attempt for Phoenix bounced off the back rim at the buzzer.

Michael Finley scored 31 points, shooting 5–of–6 on 3–pointers, and Nowitzki added 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Mavericks, who turned to rough defense and a slower tempo to bounce back from a 127–102 blowout loss in Game 1.

Erick Dampier, called out publicly by Nowitzki after being outscored by Amare Stoudemire 40–0 in Game 1, had 15 points, 10 in the first quarter, and grabbed 12 rebounds.

Stoudemire had 30 points and 16 rebounds for the Suns, who lost Joe Johnson to a mild concussion from a hard foul from Jerry Stackhouse with 19.7 seconds left in the first half.

Steve Nash had 23 points and 13 assists and Shawn Marion added 23 points and 15 rebounds.

Nowitzki sank two free throws to put Dallas ahead 106–102 with 1:55 to play, then Stoudemire missed a dunk and a layup on consecutive possessions. But Marion blocked Nowitzki’s shot, and Stoudemire dunked on a pick–and–roll feed from Nash to cut it to 106–104 with 50.9 seconds to play.

Jason Terry threw the ball away on the next possession, and Nash’s 18–footer tied it at 106 with 27.4 seconds left. After a timeout, the Mavs got the ball to Nowitzki, who worked his way inside and got the game–winning shot off over Richardson.