Miller Torments the Knicks Again

Call this one “Reggie Miller Kills the Knicks, Chapter III,” with huge co-starring roles for Rik Smits and Mark Jackson.

Miller tormented New York one more time Sunday, making a game-tying three-point basket with 5.1 seconds left in regulation and a finishing touch three-pointer with 1:28 left in overtime as the Indiana Pacers took a 3-1 second-round series lead over the Knicks with a 118-107 victory.

“I was really surprised I was so open,” Miller said. “Those are the scariest shots to take.”

It was the latest episode of Miller saving his best for Madison Square Garden, the place where he had two of his greatest career playoff moments in 1994 (25 points in the fourth quarter) and 1995 (eight points in the final 8.9 seconds).

This time, he had some help.

Smits scored 14 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, almost single-handedly bringing the Pacers back from a late eight-point deficit, and Jackson scored five straight points in overtime as Indiana quickly took control.

Miller finished the job with 1:28 left by making a three-pointer from the same spot as his earlier one, shooting a stare at filmmaker Spike Lee after the ball swished through.

He finished with 38 points, one short of his career playoff-high set against New York in 1994. Jackson added 16 points and 15 assists, Chris Mullin scored 18 and the Pacers shot 10 for 23 from three-point range.

The series resumes Wednesday night in Indianapolis, with Game 6 back in New York on Friday night, if necessary.

“It will be a dogfight Wednesday,” Miller said. “There’s no guarantee that it’s over.”

Allan Houston and John Starks led a balanced attack for New York with 19 points apiece, but Houston scored only one point in the second half and missed the final shot of regulation after the Knicks were left stunned by Miller’s three-pointer.

The Knicks seemed to be in control as they led, 100-93, with 3:47 left, but they would miss their next five shots--two of which were blocked by Game 2 star Antonio Davis.

Chicago 94, Charlotte 80--The twinges in his back, Scottie Pippen insisted, weren’t significant. What he did to the Hornets was.

With Michael Jordan struggling much of the game to find his shooting touch, Pippen fought off back pain to spark a third-quarter surge that sent the Bulls to victory at Charlotte, N.C.

“It was OK once I walked it off,” said Pippen, who stayed in the game after hurting himself and led the Bulls to the victory that put them ahead, 3-1, in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series. Game 5 is Wednesday night in Chicago.

Charlotte Coach Dave Cowens, whose team has lost 14 of 17 to the Bulls, didn’t try to paint an overly optimistic picture about the Hornets’ predicament.

“We’ve got to win three games in a row, and it’s unlikely that we’re going to do that,” Cowens said. “We’re going to have to circle the wagons.”

Jordan missed 15 of his first 25 field-goal attempts before heating up in the fourth quarter, after the outcome had been decided. He finished with 31 points on 14-for-31 shooting.

It was Pippen, however, who fueled the decisive surge after injuring his lower back early in the third quarter. He had six points, three assists and two steals in the quarter as Chicago stretched a four-point lead to 17. Pippen finished with 17 points, eight assists, six rebounds and two steals.

Pippen injured his lower back less than three minutes into the third when he lunged to intercept a long pass from Mason to David Wesley. Pippen caught the ball and almost immediately grabbed at the area just above his left hip.

Charlotte’s Glen Rice, guarded much of the game by Pippen, missed his first five shots and wound up with 13 points on six-for-17 shooting. Vlade Divac led Charlotte with 15 points.

The Bulls, who shot 43% in the first three games against the Hornets, increased that figure to 51% Sunday, had a 39-37 rebounding edge and converted 15 Charlotte turnovers into 19 points.