NBA ROUNDUP : Pacers Regain Their Form Against the Celtics, 102-95

After brashly extending the Boston Celtics to five games during last year’s playoffs, the Indiana Pacers have stumbled this season.

The Pacers, featuring offensive stars such as Reggie Miller and Chuck Person, are in sixth place in the Central Division.

But on Sunday, the Pacers appeared to find last season’s form during a 102-95 victory over the Celtics at Indianapolis.

“When you beat a team like Boston, you have done a good job,” said Person, who scored 23 points. “We . . . got ourselves a big win.”

Micheal Williams, whom Pacer Coach Bob Hill blamed for a slow third-quarter start, made two free throws with 50 seconds to play, giving Indiana a 96-95 lead.

Williams made four more free throws and Miller made two with three seconds left, sealing the victory.

Boston failed to score in the final minute.

“The last minute or two killed us,” said Reggie Lewis, who scored 21 points and had eight rebounds for the Celtics. “We didn’t spread the floor and we were just standing around. That let them double-team us. We just didn’t execute.”

Miller scored 18 points and Vern Fleming added four to become only the third Pacer to score more than 8,000 points. He has 8,002.

Cleveland 103, Milwaukee 89--Larry Nance scored 21 points and had 12 rebounds at Richfield, Ohio, as the Cavaliers handed the Bucks their 11th consecutive road loss.

Brad Daugherty made 10 of 14 shots and scored 25 points for the Cavaliers.

The Bucks have not won on the road since Jan. 2 at Minnesota.

Houston 90, San Antonio 83--The Rockets’ Hakeem Olajuwon scored 18 points, had 14 rebounds and blocked seven shots at Houston.

Olajuwon has 2,006 blocks. Only five other players in NBA history have 2,000.

Vernon Maxwell of the Rockets scored 14 of his 25 points during the final 4:17 of the third quarter.

Sacramento 124, Washington 117--The Kings’ victory at Landover, Md., was only their fourth on the road.

Dennis Hopson scored 26 points for the Kings, who entered the game with the NBA’s worst road record (3-25).