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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Offense or defense? It doesn't make any difference to Reggie Miller when it produces a victory.
Miller had 15 points, including two free throws with 14.4
seconds left, but it was his defense in the final seconds which
salvaged Indiana's 94-93 victory Monday over the Dallas Mavericks.
|  | | Michael Finley, who scored 22 points for Dallas, drives on Pacers forward Derrick McKey. |
"The latter part of my career, I'm probably getting them more
(big plays) at the defensive end because everyone is so surprised
at it," said Miller, who got the opportunity for the winning free
throws when he deflected an inbounds pass off Michael Finley with
21.9 seconds to go.
Miller also successfully defended Finley on the final shot of
the game.
"It was a game that we really had no business winning, but I'd
rather win ugly then lose pretty," Miller said.
Finley took an inbounds pass with 8.7 seconds remaining and was
forced to throw up a desperation shot at the buzzer which bounced
off the front of the rim.
"I was going to attack him, instead of letting him attack me,"
Miller said. "I wanted him to make a decision, make him make the
moves. He was looking at me kind of wild.
"I made him go side-to-side, made him turn his back a couple of
times, take time off the clock and he had to make a tough shot."
"That's the way coach drew it up, I didn't come through," said
Finley, who had 22 points for Dallas.
Jalen Rose scored 28 points for Indiana as the Pacers recorded
their 20th consecutive home victory.
After deflecting the inbounds pass off Finley, Miller drove
toward the basket and was fouled by Greg Buckner. The league's
second leading free throw shooter made both free throws, but Dallas
wasn't finished.
Indiana had a foul to give and Miller used it as Finley was
about to attempt a shot with 8.7 seconds remaining. Following a
timeout, Cedric Ceballos inbounded the ball to Finley.
Dennis Rodman had 18 rebounds and Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points
to lead Dallas, which was trying to tie its franchise record of
five consecutive road victories.
"I had a great time today. It's just a little sad to see the
young guys take a hit like that today. You've got to learn from
your mistakes," Rodman said.
Nowitzki hit two 3-pointers in succession to put Dallas ahead
93-89 in the final minute. Travis Best, who came off the bench to
contribute 13 points, followed with a 3-pointer for Indiana with
23.4 seconds left to set the stage for Miller's defensive heroics
and go-ahead free throws.
Best's 3-pointer gave him nine in the final period.
"I felt I could take Ceballos and so we made the move," Best
said of the 3-pointer. "I felt I had a chance to put the ball in
the bucket because the floor was spread and there was no designed
(play). ... I got my defender back on his heels and took advantage
of it."
Dale Davis added 16 points for the Pacers, who haven't lost at
home since Nov. 25.
Rodman's rebounds were his most yet in his four games for the
Mavericks.
There were four ties and two lead changes in the fourth quarter
before Miller's tying and winning free throws, along with seven
ties and nine lead changes in the first three quarters.
Dallas led 51-44 at halftime and saw the lead evaporate as it
hit only one of its first 13 shots in the third quarter. Indiana
took its only lead of the quarter at 54-53 and Dallas responded
with six consecutive points on two Finley jumpers sandwiched around
a short basket by Nowitzki.
Dallas went on to take its biggest lead of the game at 66-58 on
Steve Nash's 3-pointer with 2:03 remaining in the quarter.
Game notes
The Pacers played without Rik Smits for the third straight
game due to a sore lower back. ... Sore backs also led to two
roster moves by Indiana with Al Harrington coming off the injured
list and Jeff Foster replacing him. ... The Mavericks were without
Shawn Bradley for the second consecutive game due to blurred vision
as a result of a collision against Detroit. ... Rose scored in
double figures for the 21st straight game and has hit the 20-point
mark in nine of his last 10 games. ... Davis, who missed all nine
of his shots in Saturday's loss at New York, made all five of his
shots from the field in the first half.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Dallas Clubhouse
Indiana Clubhouse
Bird says he'd prefer to own Pacers, not Celtics
RECAPS
New York 87
LA Clippers 76
Indiana 94
Dallas 93
Cleveland 109
Vancouver 108
Detroit 95
Miami 87
Phoenix 98
San Antonio 89
Denver 123
Sacramento 117
Utah 96
Atlanta 94
Portland 105
Boston 92
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