 Jermaine O'Neal swats away one of his six blocks, this one on Scot Pollard. Ron Turenne NBAE/Getty Images 56k | 300k |
Harrington made 11-of-14 shots as he equaled his career high set in a triple-overtime game at Houston on March 13 of last season. He scored the basket that gave the Pacers the lead for good in the middle of a 17-1 run.
"I'm just trying to get myself together and keep it there," said Harrington, a three-year veteran who entered the NBA directly out of high school. "I feel I was over the hump tonight, but it's only one game."
"Al Harrington looks to be very improved," said Kings guard Doug Christie, one of the better defensive players in the league.
Sacramento led virtually throughout the first three quarters and opened a 97-91 advantage with just over nine minutes to play. But the Kings, who came in second in the NBA in offense, went without a basket for the next seven-plus minutes.
"They got aggressive defensively and we didn't respond," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "They were the aggressor the last 18 minutes of the game."
Reggie Miller scored 20 points and Jalen Rose added 18 for the Pacers, who shot 52 percent (46-of-88) and made 19-of-20 free throws as they beat the Kings for the fourth straight time.
Peja Stojakovic scored 36 points for Sacramento, which had a four-game winning streak snapped and fell shy of matching its best start in six years. The Kings have not won here since the 1995-96 season (5 meetings), when they beat the Pacers to start 5-0.
Stojakovic made 11-of-16 shots, including 5-of-6 3-pointers. But he was limited to 13 points after halftime as Rose did a nice job on the defensive end.
"They pushed me farther from the basket than they did in the first half and they made me go to the basket and get to the free-throw line," Stojakovic said.
"I slowed him some. I didn't stop him," Rose said.
Miller made three free throws and a bank shot to pull Indiana within 97-96 and Harrington hit a jumper to give the Pacers the lead for good with 7:13 remaining.
"I'm just playing within myself, letting the game come to me, not forcing things," Harrington said.
"Al gave us great effort and a great game tonight," Rose said. "We know his ability and know he can perform."
Two free throws by Jermaine O'Neal and a jumper by Travis Best made it 102-97. Vlade Divac made 1-of-2 free throws midway through the period, but Rose, O'Neal and Best scored to extend the lead to 108-98 with 3:15 left.
O'Neal overcame a slow start to collect 16 points and nine rebounds for the Pacers, who had six players in double figures.
Mike Bibby scored 19 points and Christie added 14 for the Kings, who shot 47 percent (38-of-81). Divac had 12 points and 10 boards and Hedo Turkoglu added 11 and nine.
Stojakovic scored 23 points in the first half before Harrington came on and gave the Pacers a boost. Miller's catch-and-shoot 3-pointer to close the first half kept Indiana within 58-55.
"When Al came in and we went with a smaller lineup, we got things going," Pacers coach Isiah Thomas said. "Al was great tonight. Just with his running we got two, three easy baskets and got back in it."