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Pacers-Celtics: 56k | 300k  The Run: Reggie takes over 
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Indiana's 2002-03 season ended on this floor with a 20-point loss in Game 6 of its first-round series with Boston. Artest's normally tough defense was shredded by Pierce.
"The last time I was here it was bad," Artest said. "I think I started out with an airball and a couple of other things happened. We've just got to be ready to play, especially in this building. This building can get rowdy."
In Friday's first half, Artest did everything he could to slow down Pierce, including pulling down his shorts. Pierce tugged them up before burying a 3-pointer that gave Boston a 49-34 lead with 4:58 left in the second quarter.
"You have to do whatever you can against him," Artest said. "He's that good."
Artest answered with a three-point play to trigger a 12-5 run that closed the half. He added nine points in the third quarter, when he twice stripped Pierce and went in for layups. His left-handed drive over Pierce gave Indiana the lead for good at 67-66 with 4:05 left.
"He's a strong defender," Pierce admitted. "He has good hands and you've go to be careful with the ball around him. He did a good job when I spun, coming from behind and taking the ball from me."
Indiana opened the final period with a 13-0 run that featured three 3-pointers by Reggie Miller, who scored 18 points. The Pacers poured it on and took their largest lead at 99-80 with 4:10 to go on a 3-pointer by Artest.
"It was good to finally come in here and get a win," Miller said. "Last year we didn't win at all in here and we had plenty of chances to do so. There were a lot of games that were close, but we always came up on the short end. Tonight, we put a full 48 minute game together and got the win."
"They just play steady," Pierce said. "They never get rattled. They play steady for all four quarters and no lead is safe with them. They are the best team in the East."
Jermaine O'Neal had 21 points and 13 rebounds for Indiana, which also avenged a 78-76 home loss to Boston earlier this season.
"We got a monkey off our back," O'Neal said. "The last three times we've lost here. Coming out and playing the way we played tonight really helped remind us that we can win in this building. We know it's a tough building to win in, the crowd is crazy, the team is well-coached and they've got some players who can really hurt you. Doing what we did tonight can help us later on in the season."
Pierce had 18 points and nine boards but made just 8-of-19 shots as he was hounded by Artest, who had five steals.
"Artest played great defense on Pierce, who is as good an offensive player as you're going to find on the perimeter," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said.
"When I'm playing against the best players in the league at my position and I have the opportunity to guard them, it's just fun to me," Artest said "I always try to step my game up. I just love doing it."
Al Harrington had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Pacers, who owned a 47-34 edge on the glass.
"Our Achilles' heel has been rebounding," Celtics coach Jim O'Brien said. "They got 12 offensive rebounds in the second half."
Celtics swingman Jiri Welsch left in the fourth quarter with a left knee injury and did not return.