Miller Is Too Much Down the Stretch

Reggie Miller saved his best for last Friday night, lifting Indiana to a 79-74 victory over Detroit in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Miller drew two fouls, made four free throws and a key basket in the final 81 seconds to give the Pacers a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 is Sunday at Indianapolis.

Miller, 39, made only three of 11 shots from the field, including missing all seven of his shots from three-point range. But when Indiana needed him most, the five-time All-Star who is retiring after the season looked like anything but a fading star.

With the Pacers trailing, 72-71, Miller drew the sixth foul on Richard Hamilton with 1:21 left and made two free throws to give Indiana a 73-72 lead. On the Pacers’ next possession, Miller drew a foul on Lindsey Hunter and made two more free throws to make it 75-72.

And when Detroit needed to stop Indiana to have a chance at a potentially tying three-point basket, Hunter fell down -- or perhaps was pushed -- and Miller made 21-foot shot to give Indiana a 79-74 lead.

“Lindsey, who is an unbelievable defender, was crowding me, so I tried to use my body against him and tried to create some space, which I did,” Miller said of his shot that secured the victory.

Miller led the Pacers with 17 points, Jamaal Tinsley added 16 and Jeff Foster had 12 rebounds.

Detroit, the defending NBA champion, was upset with the calls and the non-calls.

“It was an unbelievable shot he hit,” Coach Larry Brown said. “But how could he get so open? ... It’s a shame that in the final situation they leave it up to other people to decide the game.”

Brown seemed to imply that Miller was using his trademark push-off to draw fouls and get free, and Hunter declined to comment.

Miller conceded there was pushing and shoving by both teams, but acknowledged it was part of the tiresome complaints he hears every year come playoff time.

“It’s common,” Miller said. “It’s always something I’m doing.”

Detroit’s Rasheed Wallace says the Pistons aren’t finished.

“We’re definitely going back to Detroit with this thing 2-2, no question about it,” he said.