Rose Proves Thorny for 76ers

Jalen Rose’s two most productive games in the NBA have come against a team coached by Larry Brown, the man who two years ago questioned the guard’s ability to play in the league.

Rose, seldom used in the one season he played for Brown at Indiana, came off the bench to score a career playoff-high 27 points Monday night as the Pacers defeated Philadelphia, 94-90, in the opening game of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal.

Less than a month ago, Rose had a career-high 28 points against Philadelphia, the team Brown has led back into the playoffs.

“As a player you always have satisfaction when your team wins and you play well,” said Rose, who declined to discuss his relationship with Brown except to say the two haven’t talked since Brown left the Pacers following the 1996-97 season.

“The things that we went through as a team, and I went through as a player when Larry was here, I can’t dwell on it too much,” Rose said. “I just have to go out and be the player that I am today . . . You’ve got to go out and get knocked down sometimes before you get lifted. Maybe that was my case.”

Rose was nine for 16 from the field and nine for 10 from the free-throw line.

“He just got in that early groove, hit a couple of shots and we couldn’t stop him,” said Allen Iverson, who led the 76ers with 35 points.

The Pacers shared the defensive assignment against Iverson, the league scoring champion, with Mark Jackson, Reggie Miller, Travis Best and Derrick McKey combining to guard him as he made 13 of 26 shots.

“I don’t think anybody can guard me, that’s something every guy in this league should feel,” Iverson said.

“I thought Allen was sensational. Allen did a fantastic job against a team that was prepared for him,” Brown said.

The Pacers, who had lost the season series, 2-1 to the 76ers, offset Iverson with balanced scoring.

Miller had 18 points, including three free throws down the stretch when the 76ers were reducing a 13-point deficit to two. Jackson scored 14 for the Pacers, including two free throws with 5.2 seconds left that sealed the victory.

Matt Geiger was the only other major offensive weapon for Philadelphia with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

The Pacers helped themselves by making 26 of 32 free throws, while Philadelphia was 15 for 23.