Pacers Ensure Thomas Enjoys Return

Indiana Pacer Coach Isiah Thomas insisted that Wednesday’s visit to the Palace of Auburn Hills in Michigan was no big deal.

His players knew better.

Reggie Miller scored 30 points while Travis Best added 22 as the Pacers defeated the Detroit Pistons, 92-88, Wednesday night.

“Isiah coming back to Detroit was a lot like the last few years when Coach [Larry] Bird would go back to Boston,” Miller said. “They would act like it was just another game, but you could see it in their eyes. Isiah has a lot of tradition in this town, and we wanted to win this for him.”

Thomas, who spent his Hall of Fame playing career with the Pistons, was given a standing ovation by the sparse crowd during pregame introductions.

“I wouldn’t trade the feeling I got when I walked back on that court for anything in the world,” Thomas said. “It was great to realize that the fans here still appreciate what we did.”

Jalen Rose’s return to the Pacers lineup was delayed for at least one more game. The Detroit native, who has missed the entire season with a fractured wrist, had hoped to return against the Pistons but did not dress for the game.

Austin Croshere had 15 points and 11 rebounds for Indiana.

Jerry Stackhouse led Detroit with 29 points, and Cedric Ceballos scored 19.

Phoenix 99, Dallas 78--Shawn Marion had 19 points, a career-high 19 rebounds and five blocked shots at Phoenix as the Suns won their seventh in a row.

The Suns’ 7-1 start is their best since they began the 1980-81 season 11-1.

Rodney Rogers scored 19 points for Phoenix. Jason Kidd had 15 points and nine assists despite foul trouble.

Boston 116, Washington 109--Bryant Stith scored a season-high 29 points as the Celtics snapped a four-game losing streak by defeating the Wizards at Boston.

Antoine Walker added 26 points and 13 rebounds for Boston, which opened a 15-point lead in the first quarter. Paul Pierce also had 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Mitch Richmond scored 28, Rod Strickland added 26 and Juwan Howard had 25 for Washington.

Minnesota 92, Golden State 90--Kevin Garnett had 24 points and nine rebounds as the Timberwolves survived a late 16-0 run at Minneapolis to hand the Warriors their seventh consecutive loss.

Golden State went on a 16-0 spurt to pull within one on Antawn Jamison’s three-point play that made it 89-88 with 17.1 seconds left, but Minnesota’s Wally Szczerbiak blocked Mookie Blaylock’s jumper before the final buzzer.

New Jersey 93, Miami 91--Stephon Marbury scored 31 points to surpass the 30-point mark for the sixth time in eight games as the Nets defeated the Heat at East Rutherford, N.J.

Marbury also had nine assists and nine rebounds and Aaron Williams added 11 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, giving Nets rookie Coach Byron Scott a win over his former mentor, Heat Coach Pat Riley.

Milwaukee 84, Atlanta 74--Glenn Robinson scored nine of his 21 points in the decisive third quarter at Milwaukee as the Bucks ended their three-game losing streak.