Pacers Show Some Life in Playoff Bid

The playoff berth that appeared to be slipping away for the Indiana Pacers is once again within reach.

Jermaine O’Neal scored 29 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and Brad Miller added 23 points and 11 rebounds at Indianapolis as the Pacers beat Toronto, 98-82, Wednesday night, snapping the Raptors’ nine-game winning streak.

The Pacers moved one game behind the Raptors and Milwaukee for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers play host to the Bucks on Friday. Milwaukee has won all three games against Indiana this season, clinching the tiebreaker.

Indiana also would lose a tiebreaker with the Raptors by virtue of its 1-3 record vs. Toronto.

“I told Reggie [Miller] before the game we’ve got to find a way to win this,” O’Neal said. “We had to play the best basketball of our careers. I wasn’t going to let my team lose it.

“The playoffs are within reach and now they’re ours for the taking. The door is opening up again. This was a big win, but it’s over. Milwaukee is a bigger game than this. We win that, and the door is wide open.”

Antonio Davis had 24 points for the Raptors, who cut a 21-point deficit to three early in the third quarter but could get no closer.

Sacramento 118, Golden State 116--Chris Webber had 31 points and 12 rebounds at Oakland as the Kings clinched at least a tie for the NBA’s best record with their 10th consecutive victory.

With one more victory or one loss by the Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks, the Kings will clinch the franchise’s first division title since the Kansas City Kings’ Midwest Division crown in 1979.

Antawn Jamison had 20 points for Golden State.

Cleveland 106, Milwaukee 81--The Bucks’ road losing streak reached 10 games as Wesley Person scored 23 points to lead the Cavaliers to victory at Cleveland.

Milwaukee lost for the 14th time in 18 games overall. Two months ago, the Bucks led the Central Division, but are now in danger of missing the playoffs.

The Bucks are tied with Toronto for the eight-best record in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee’s next three games are against Indiana, Charlotte and Toronto--all battling the Bucks for a playoff berth.

Adding to the Bucks’ problems, starting guard Sam Cassell did not play in the second half because of a sprained left big toe.

Glenn Robinson led Milwaukee with 21 points.

Boston 70, Miami 65--Antoine Walker’s three-pointer tied the score and his baby hook gave the Celtics the lead for good at Boston as they clinched home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

With the loss, Miami was eliminated from playoff contention--the first quiet postseason in Coach Pat Riley’s 20-year career.

It was the lowest-scoring game in the NBA this season. Boston scored only 12 points in the third quarter and Miami had only nine in the fourth.

Walker led Boston with 21 points. Alonzo Mourning and Eddie Jones each had 16 points for the Heat.

Atlanta 101, Charlotte 95--Shareef Abdur-Rahim scored 33 points to help the Hawks prevent the Hornets from clinching a playoff spot at Charlotte, N.C.

Charlotte, tied with Philadelphia for fifth in the Eastern Conference, is still chasing Orlando for the fourth spot and home-court advantage.

Jamal Mashburn led Charlotte with 26 points.

Chicago 102, Detroit 101--Jalen Rose scored 24 points and rookie Tyson Chandler added a career-best 21 points and 12 rebounds to help the Bulls upset the Pistons at Auburn Hills, Mich.

The victory was Chicago’s first against the Central Division champions since Jan. 22, 2000, ending an eight-game losing streak.

Cliff Robinson had 27 points for Detroit, which led by 16 points in the first half.

Washington 90, Philadelphia 77--Michael Jordan, sidelined for the season by a knee injury, sat on the bench for the first time since being injured and watched his Wizards hold off the visiting 76ers.

Washington blew a 17-point halftime lead before closing the game with a 13-0 run over the last three minutes. Richard Hamilton scored 21 points as the Wizards stayed mathematically alive for the playoffs.

Eric Snow had a career-high 26 points for the 76ers.

San Antonio 87, Denver 79--Tim Duncan had 16 points and 11 rebounds, ending his streak of 24 consecutive games with at least 20 points, as the Spurs won at San Antonio.

San Antonio won its fifth consecutive game overall and its 12th in a row at home.