O’Neal Has Last Word for Pacers

Jermaine O’Neal finally stayed out of foul trouble, and that was bad news for the New Jersey Nets.

O’Neal tied his playoff high with 37 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, and the Indiana Pacers beat the Nets, 107-95, Thursday night at Indianapolis to take a 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter each scored 25 points for the Nets, but Carter was held without a basket in the second half. The Pacers held the Nets to nine-for-38 shooting (24%) in the second half.

Foul trouble had limited O’Neal to no more than 32 minutes in each of the first two games.

He averaged 13.5 points and five rebounds, well below his regular-season averages of 20.1 points and 9.3 rebounds. On Thursday, he shot 12 for 15 and made 13 of 14 free throws.

O’Neal was fined $15,000 on Thursday for publicly criticizing officials after the Game 2 loss at New Jersey. He has complained that New Jersey players have been flopping and getting calls.

Chicago 109, Miami 90 -- Shaquille O’Neal had one of his worst playoff games, and the Bulls took advantage at Chicago, pulling within 2-1 in the Eastern Conference first-round series.

O’Neal finished with eight points and four rebounds. He had one basket through the first three quarters and scored six points in the fourth, narrowly missing his career playoff low.

He had seven points for the Lakers against the Houston Rockets on April 19, 2004.

After averaging 24.5 points and 11.5 rebounds in the first two games, O’Neal picked up his third foul just over three minutes into the second quarter and spent the rest of the half on the bench.