NBA ROUNDUP : Indiana on Target in Victory

The Indiana Pacers, who have never had home-court advantage in the NBA playoffs, who have not won an NBA division title, who last were 20 games over .500 in 1972-73 and then in the now-defunct American Basketball Assn., are facing all of that.

It’s a challenge, and Coach Larry Brown is enjoying his players’ response.

The Pacers opened a 2 1/2-game lead over Charlotte by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers, 107-96, at Indianapolis on Wednesday night.

It was the fifth consecutive victory for Indiana and its seventh in a row at Market Square Arena.

“When you can win convincingly against a team that’s shooting 60%, you must be doing something right,” Brown said.

Reggie Miller’s three three-point baskets sandwiched around halftime gave Indiana the lead for good. He finished with 22 points.

Philadelphia 99, Charlotte 81--Clarence Weatherspoon scored 28 points and Sharone Wright and Dana Barros added 18 each for the 76ers, who won at home after losing 10 of their last 11.

The Hornets lost forward Scott Burrell for the season with a ruptured right Achilles’ tendon in the first quarter.

Seattle 109, Minnesota 92--Gary Payton scored 33 points at Tacoma, Wash., as the SuperSonics defeated Minnesota for the 17th time in a row and moved into a tie with the Phoenix Suns for first place in the Pacific Division.

New York 107, Detroit 97--Hubert Davis scored five consecutive points in the final 4 1/2 minutes and Patrick Ewing scored 18 of his 28 points in the second half as the Knicks won at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Miami 101, Washington 97--Rookie Khalid Reeves scored 11 consecutive points in the final 2:26 for Miami, which won at Washington, handing the Bullets their fifth loss in a row.

Glen Rice scored 20 of his 26 points in the second half to help the Heat end a two-game losing streak.