Reggie Leads Pacers By Cavs

Reggie Miller didn't get fouled. He got flattened.

The Cavaliers didn't see it that way, even though Miller ended up nearly sitting underneath their bench.

Miller scored 21 of his 28 points in the second half and made three huge free throws after a debatable call with 42.3 seconds remaining Friday night, leading the Indiana Pacers to a 95-92 win over Cleveland.

With the Cavs leading 91-90, Miller was fouled by Person while attempting a 3-pointer in front of Cleveland's bench. The contact came after Miller released his shot, and the call was a little late, but the officials didn't let Person get away with tackling Miller.

"I was more upset because I missed the shot," Miller said. "He definitely ran into me. It should have been a four-point play. I let them off the hook."

Cavs coach Randy Wittman nearly ran out of his suit coat when referee Ted Bernhardt blew his whistle.

"The shot was away," Wittman said. "Whether there was contact or not it didn't have anything to do with the shot. You rarely see that call made."

Mark Jackson made a short hook in the lane with 8.7 seconds left as the Pacers, coming off a draining overtime win against Portland on Thursday, held on for their fourth straight win.

Cleveland had two chances to tie in the closing seconds, but both Andre Miller and Shawn Kemp were way off the mark on 3-pointers.

Indiana was without Jalen Rose (flu) and Chris Mullin (pulled calf muscle) and had a much tougher time with the Cavs, whom they pummeled by 48 points in December. Rik Smits had 17 points for the Pacers.

"It was one of the more satisfying wins since I've been here," Indiana coach Larry Bird said. "Knowing that you're undermanned and knowing that guys were going to move to different positions."

Lamond Murray led Cleveland with 25 points and Miller had 17 and matched a season-high with 14 assists.

Kemp, who was named to the Cavs' all-time starting five as part of the franchise's 30th anniversary, had a rough night. He finished with 11 points on just 5-of-17 shooting and spent part of the fourth quarter on the bench in foul trouble. He and Smits nearly squared off in the final period after getting tangled and both got hit with technicals.

"The 3-point play by Miller kind of stuck it to us," said Kemp, who dressed quickly and left the arena. "But this is a team that we lost to by 48 points a couple of months ago, so I think we're going in the right direction."

Miller's three free throws made it 93-91 before Kemp was fouled on a drive with 29.3 seconds remaining. But with a chance to tie it and atone for another off-night, Kemp was long with his first free throw. He made the second to bring the Cavs within 93-92.

On Indiana's next trip, Jackson backed Andre Miller down the lane and dropped in his short hook to put the Pacers up three.

"It was designed for me to post and read the defense," Jackson said. "I was pretty much waiting and trying to bait them. Ferry was guarding McKey and he was dancing back and forth. So I let the clock run down and fortunately the shot went in."

Andre Miller then badly missed a 3-pointer from the top of the key with four second left, and the ball bounced all the way back out to Kemp, who misfired just before the horn.

"We had three options," Wittman said. "Andre went with the shot and actually after the long rebound, Shawn had a very good look. It just did not go."

Jonathan Bender made his first career start for Indiana as Mullin and Rose were unavailable.

Miller and Smits combined to score 24 of Indiana's 26 points in the third as the Pacers took a 72-70 lead.

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