INDIANA 108, PORTLAND 95
Tinsley Comes Alive To Spark Comeback
By Conrad Brunner | Dec. 8, 2006
After a forgettable first half, Jamaal Tinsley put together a memorable second and finished with 20 points, eight assists, eight rebounds, four steals and two blocked shots to spark the Pacers to a 108-95 comeback victory over Portland Friday night at Conseco Fieldhouse.
Tinsley had just two points, three assists and four turnovers in the first half but took charge after intermission along with Stephen Jackson, who led the team in scoring for the second game in a row with 25. Coach Rick Carlisle made a critical lineup change to start the third period, going small with Sarunas Jasikevicius at shooting guard and Jackson at small forward but that group completely dominated the Blazers in a game-turning 28-7 run.
The Pacers played without Jermaine O'Neal, who also will miss Saturday's game in Cleveland with a sore left hamstring, but won their second in a row overall and seventh straight against Portland to improve to 11-10 and 6-2 at home. Portland, in the midst of a six-game road trip, lost for the seventh time in eight games to fall to 7-14 overall, 3-8 on the road.
PLUSES
Tinsley's second-half dominance was dazzling; he had 18 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals after intermission. Jackson looks to be regaining his shooting stroke after a long slump as he shot 8-of-16 for his 25 points, adding five rebounds, five assists and two blocked shots. Al Harrington scored 16 with three assists and Jeff Foster snagged 13 rebounds. Off the bench, Danny Granger provided 14 points, four rebounds, three steals and a block and Jasikevicius scored 11 with three assists. Maceo Baston made his first career NBA start at age 30 and played well with nine points, two rebounds and a career-high four blocked shots.
MINUSES
The Pacers struggled mightily against Portland's matchup zone defense for most of the first half, committing 12 turnovers and shooting just .359. Randolph put up another big number with 29 points on 11-of-20 shooting but pulled just four rebounds. Juan Dixon (17 points), Jamaal Magloire (14 points, seven rebounds) and Travis Outlaw (13 points, five rebounds, two blocks) were effective off the bench but aside from Randolph, Portland's starting lineup totaled 12 points on 4-of-19 shooting.
MOMENTS
The Pacers jumped out to a 13-2 lead but that was it for the first half. Indiana proceeded to shoot 2-of-17 while committing eight turnovers in an 8½ minute span while Portland put together a 32-9 run to build a 34-22 lead early in the second quarter. Just when it appeared Granger had brought the Pacers back, scoring eight quick points as Indiana closed to 44-39, another turnover barrage fueled an eight-point Portland run and the Blazers took a 53-42 lead into the break.
Tinsley and Jackson took over at both ends of the floor in the third quarter, combining for 20 of the points in the 28-7 run that gave the Pacers a 72-62 lead late in the third quarter. Portland trade to climb back into it, getting as close as five (77-72) in the fourth quarter but consecutive dunks by Harrington and Baston and a pair of free throws from Tinsley pushed the lead to 95-81 with 4:07 remaining, effectively quelling Portland's hopes.
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