INDIANA 104, MILWAUKEE 98
Pacers Help Themselves To Big Win
At Milwaukee | April 11, 2007
After a frustrating loss in Philadelphia Tuesday night, it became obvious the Pacers would require help to complete their playoff push. They got it from an unlikely source – the officiating crew – Wednesday night as two late calls played vital roles in their ability to preserve a 104-98 victory over the Bucks in Milwaukee.
Hanging onto a 100-98 lead in the final minute, Mike Dunleavy rebounded Darrell Armstrong's missed 3-pointer on the baseline and signaled for a timeout while stepping out of bounds. One official waved off the timeout, which would've given the ball to the Bucks with a chance to at least tie with 14.2 seconds remaining. But the initial ruling was reversed and the Pacers were awarded the timeout, which preserved a critical possession.
Though they only needed to run out the clock, the Pacers found themselves in a frantic scramble against Milwaukee's defensive pressure and Dunleavy lofted an ill-advised cross-court pass that was stolen by Mo Williams, who streaked in with what appeared to be the game-tying layup. But Dan Gadzuric, chasing Dunleavy, was called for a foul after the fateful pass was released. Instead of a tie game, Dunleavy went to the line with 2.2 seconds and made both to ice the hard-fought victory.
Their third victory in four games, coupled with Orlando's 104-99 loss in Detroit, moved the Pacers (35-43) one game behind the eighth-place Magic (36-42) with four remaining. The Bucks (26-52), playing without four injured starters including leading scorer Michael Redd, lost their fourth in a row and 11th in 12 games.
PLUSES
The needed offensive balance was there as five players scored in double figures led by Dunleavy's game-high 25 on 8-of-15 shooting. He was 8-of-10 from the line and pulled five rebounds. Danny Granger rebounded nicely from an horrific night in Philadelphia and flirted with a triple-double (18 points, a career-high 10 assists and six rebounds, not to mention two blocked shots). Jermaine O'Neal struggled with his shot most of the night (7-of-17) but hit three big ones in the fourth period and finished with 16 points, nine rebounds, four assists, four blocks and two steals. Darrell Armstrong scored 16 with four rebounds and four assists off the bench and Keith McLeod started and scored in double figures for the fourth straight game with 11 points, adding four assists. Troy Murphy was one point and one rebound away from a double-double off the bench. The Pacers had 29 assists on 38 baskets, dominated the boards 58-39 and owned a 23-7 advantage at the free-throw line.
MINUSES
Like so many other shorthanded teams forced to scramble with unconventional lineups and approaches, the Bucks used a small group that often gave the Pacers fits. Williams was his usual troublesome self with 23 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Rookie David Noel shot 7-of-10 and scored a career-high 18 off the bench. Gadzuric used his quickness around the rim for 18 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks. Charlie Bell scored 14, eight in the fourth quarter, and Ruben Patterson was surprisingly quiet with 10 points in just 17 minutes.
MOMENTS
Though the Pacers kept the Bucks at arm's length most of the night, there was never a sense of comfort. The lead was as big as 10 in the first half and nine (53-44) at the break, but the Pacers opened the third quarter with a 12-4 run to stretch the margin to 65-49. Williams wouldn't let things get out of hand, though, by hitting consecutive 3-pointers to spark a 10-point counter that cut it to 65-59. Armstrong helped quell that threat with eight quick points and the Pacers rebuilt an 84-72 lead with 9:47 remaining.
Bell then got hot, scoring half the points in a 12-2 run fueled by five Indiana turnovers as the Bucks closed to 86-84 with 7:21 left. Upon regaining their offensive composure, the Pacers preserved the lead, though it was threatened down to the last. Milwaukee thrice cut the lead to one, but Indiana scored on its final seven possessions.
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