Pacers Send the Bucks Packing

Needing a spark on offense, Indiana turned to its oldest player for help. Sam Perkins delivered.

The 37-year-old left-hander made two big three-point baskets in the second half when the Pacers were struggling offensively and Indiana went on to beat the Bucks, 99-91, Thursday night at Milwaukee to complete a sweep of their best-of-five playoff series.

The Pacers await the Orlando-Philadelphia winner.

Reggie Miller led Indiana with 33 points. Glenn Robinson led Milwaukee with 23 points.

San Antonio 85, Minnesota 71--The Spurs held the Timberwolves to 28 first-half points at Minneapolis on the way to a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.

Game 4 is Saturday at Minneapolis.

It was the fifth-worst offensive performance in NBA playoff history, the worst being Utah’s 23-point half against Chicago on June 7, 1998.

Avery Johnson continued to take advantage of double-teams on the Spurs’ big men by scoring a game-high 24 points, 15 above his average.

Around the League

Seattle SuperSonic all-star guard Gary Payton denied reports that he was so unhappy at missing the playoffs that he would demand a trade should the team not improve next season. “If I wanted a trade, I would have had a news conference and said I wanted to be traded,” Payton said. Meanwhile, Payton was chosen to the NBA all-defensive team for the sixth time as Houston Rocket forward Scottie Pippen became only the third player selected at least eight times to the team. Former teammate Michael Jordan was a nine-time choice and former Philadelphia 76er Bobby Jones was honored eight times. Also voted to the team by the league’s 29 coaches were forwards Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs and Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz, center Alonzo Mourning of the Miami Heat and guard Jason Kidd of Phoenix. Six players were selected because of a tie in the voting between Pippen and Malone. Chosen for the second-team were forwards P.J. Brown of Miami and Theo Ratliff of the Philadelphia 76ers, guards Mookie Blaylock of the Atlanta Hawks and Eddie Jones of the Charlotte Hornets, and center Dikembe Mutombo of Atlanta. . . . Atlanta forward Alan Henderson, who might need surgery on his right eye, will miss the rest of the Hawks’ playoff series against the Detroit Pistons. He has had blurred vision since being poked in the eye May 2.

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Fewest Points in Half

Four of the nine lowest point totals by one team in a half in NBA playoff history since 1954-55 season have happened this season. A look:

* 23: Utah at Chicago, June 7, 1998 (second half)

* 24: Portland at Utah, May 5, 1996 (first)

* 25: Detroit at Atlanta, May 10, 1999 (second)

* 27: Philadelphia at Orlando, May 11, 1999 (first)

* 27: Atlanta at Detroit, May 12, 1999 (first)

* 27: Philadelphia vs. Boston, May 21, 1982 (second)

* 28: Los Angeles at Milwaukee, April 7, 1974 (first)

* 28: San Antonio vs. Portland, May 7, 1993 (second)

* 28: Minnesota vs. San Antonio, May 13, 1999 (first)