RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Reggie Miller took care of the outside scoring, and Jermaine O'Neal was in charge inside.
|  | | Reggie Miller scored 41, helped by his 7-for-11 effort beyond the 3-point arc. |
Miller went 7-of-11 on 3-pointers en route to 41 points, and
O'Neal had 24 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks as the Indiana
Pacers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 108-97 Wednesday in front of the
first non-sellout at Conseco Fieldhouse.
"Once Jermaine established the low post, they had to defend
against him. That opened things for our shooters," said Miller,
who scored 19 points in the third quarter. He finished 13-of-21 on
field goals and sank all eight of his free throws for the Pacers
(2-2).
O'Neal went 9-of-19 from the field, including several dunks.
Travis Best added 16 points, and Austin Croshere had 10 points and
10 rebounds.
"Our penetration killed those guys," O'Neal said. "Reggie is
always moving. We moved the ball so much, it got me open."
The Pacers had sold out 54 straight games at the year-old
Conseco Fieldhouse, which has a capacity of 18,345; 661 fewer fans
attended Wednesday's game.
Sam Cassell led Milwaukee (1-4) with 29 points. Glenn Robinson
added 20 points and Ray Allen 17.
"I think Jermaine O'Neal was a big presence on the defensive
end," Cassell said. "He caused some havoc tonight. If he didn't
block it, just his presence was enough. That's why they got this
win tonight."
Allen said Miller was the key.
"We got in the mode of letting him be open early in game,"
Allen said. "He got some confidence and he found his shot."
Indiana went on a 9-0 run bridging the end of the third quarter
and the start of the fourth to take an 86-74 lead. But Cassell made
two baskets and a free throw to pull Milwaukee to 95-89 with 4:23
left.
Miller drove along the baseline for one basket, drove the lane
for another, O'Neal put in a rebound, and Croshere hit two free
throws as the Pacers scored eight of the next 10 points.
Indiana led 50-48 at halftime.
Cassell, who hit his first five shots, had 18 points in the
first half.
Game notes
Former Indiana University coach Bob Knight watched
Wednesday's game from a seat directly behind Pacers' president
Donnie Walsh. Knight, at the behest of Pacers' coach Isiah Thomas,
gave the Pacers 30 minutes of half-court offense instructions on
Tuesday. ... Bucks guard Lindsey Hunter leads the NBA with 14 3-point field goals. ... The Pacers announced a Thursday afternoon press conference with Jalen Rose, who anticipates returning to the lineup Friday. He's been out since breaking his left wrist in the Oct. 11 preseason opener against Minnesota.
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NBA Scoreboard
Milwaukee Clubhouse
Indiana Clubhouse
RECAPS
Indiana 108
Milwaukee 97
Philadelphia 103
Detroit 94
New Jersey 102
Washington 86
Miami 87
Seattle 81
Cleveland 99
New York 97
Charlotte 96
Orlando 90
Vancouver 101
Dallas 74
San Antonio 91
LA Lakers 81
Denver 109
Minnesota 107
Utah 93
LA Clippers 87
Sacramento 115
Golden State 84
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Jermaine O'Neal puts away the Travis Best pass.
avi: 474 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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