Miller Leads Kings by Pacers

Brad Miller had 18 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in his first game against his former team and the Sacramento Kings defeated the Indiana Pacers, 91-88, on Sunday night.

Peja Stojakovic had 27 points and five rebounds for the Kings, who led by 16 in the third quarter of the emotional game that saw many players challenge the officiating.

Indiana forward Ron Artest was ejected late in the second quarter for arguing an offensive foul call. Official Anthony Jordan whistled Artest for a charge 3:31 before halftime. Artest received a technical for questioning the call.

The Pacers called timeout before Mike Bibby shot the first technical shot. During the timeout, Artest approached Jordan to give him another earful and official Bob Delaney called the second technical that led to Artest being tossed. Artest, the Pacers’ second-leading scorer at 18.3 points per game, had nine points, an assist and no rebounds.

Jermaine O’Neal had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead Indiana, which missed many key shots down the stretch. Jamison Brewer couldn’t get a desperation three-point shot off in time to beat the final buzzer.

Sacramento’s Vlade Divac was whistled for an offensive foul with 50.2 seconds left and his finger roll went in, which would have given the Kings a three-point lead. O’Neal missed on the other end. The Kings got the ball back. Stojakovic made two free throws with 12.4 seconds left.