Pacers Power Past Celtics

The Indiana Pacers showed again why they’re the top team in the Eastern Conference.

A strong bench, led by 19 points from Al Harrington and Jonathan Bender, and dominant rebounding led the Pacers to a 108-85 victory Friday night and a 3-0 lead over the Boston Celtics in the first-round playoff series.

It was the worst home playoff loss in Celtic history, a span of 261 postseason games since 1948.

The top-seeded Pacers can complete the sweep of the best-of-seven series against the eighth-seeded Celtics on Sunday in Boston.

The Pacers were 61-21 in the regular season and Boston was 36-46. The difference has been apparent throughout the series.

Indiana, which won the first two games at Indianapolis by 16 and 13 points, led, 52-32, late in the first half and stayed ahead. The Pacers led by as many as 26 twice in the final minute.

Ron Artest, who returned from a one-game suspension for leaving the bench when Boston’s Brandon Hunter threw Jermaine O’Neal to the floor in Game 1, scored 15 points and played outstanding defense on Paul Pierce.

Pierce scored only nine points, making four of 17 shots. For the series, he is 16 for 53 with 56 points.

The Celtics did have plenty of outstanding players at the game. Unfortunately for Boston, they retired years ago and sat in the stands.

During a timeout with 2:22 left in the third quarter and Indiana leading, 74-63, Bruce Springsteen’s “Glory Days” was played over the sound system as the midcourt scoreboard showed Celtic broadcasters Bob Cousy, Tom Heinsohn and Cedric Maxwell and former stars JoJo White, Robert Parish and Larry Bird.

Bird, Indiana’s president of basketball operations, stood up to a loud ovation as Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra and Pacer President Donnie Walsh sat on each side of him.

Boston still had a chance when it trailed, 79-67, with 9:27 left. But Indiana went on a 15-2 run -- with substitutes Bender and Fred Jones scoring six and five points -- and took a 94-69 lead with 5:55 left.

The Celtics had cut a 53-40 halftime deficit to 53-46. Then the Pacers went on a 9-2 run. Jamaal Tinsley made a three-point basket, Jermaine O’Neal made a three-point play and Reggie Miller made a three-point shot.

That put the Pacers ahead, 62-48, with 8:13 left in the third quarter. With the lead down to 74-63, Anthony Johnson made a three-pointer and O’Neal made a jump shot that ended the third quarter with the Pacers leading, 79-63.