NBA.com News: Indiana 90, New York 78


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      BOX SCORE | RECAP
      Indiana 90, New York 78



      NEW YORK (Ticker)  Latrell Sprewell may have started, but Jalen Rose and 
      Chris Mullin finished off the New York Knicks. 
      Rose scored 19 points and Mullin 18 as the Indiana Pacers regained 
      home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference Finals with a gutty 90-78 
      victory over the Knicks that evened the series at two games each. 
             Latrell Sprewell said Chris Mullin (17) "did an excellent job of 
            moving without the ball." (Jennifer Pottheiser/NBA Photos) 


      With reserve point guard Travis Best nursing a groin injury, Rose was 
      pressed into extra duty and responded. Playing both guard spots and small 
      forward, he shot 8-of-14 from the field and scored nine points in the 
      fourth quarter, when the Pacers fought off a late charge by the Knicks.
      "We feel like we can be the difference if we're aggressive," said Rose, 
      who was accused of pouting earlier in the series by Pacers coach Larry 
      Bird. "I knew I was going to have the opportunity to shoot the ball." 
      "He handled himself extremely well," Bird said. "Jalen loves to play the 
      point, and he just proved to me again that he's very capable of doing 
      that. He had two baskets in the fourth quarter that held off their rally. 
      He just played awesome all night." 
      Mullin, who had been quiet in the first three games of the series, scored 
      18 points on 7-of-13 shooting, constantly losing Sprewell in a maze of 
      screens that produced open jumpers. He scored 10 points in the third 
      period, helping Indiana maintain its 45-32 halftime lead.
      "Chris had a big burden on his shoulders because he knew Sprewell was 
      going to start and everybody was talking about him not knowing how to 
      defend him. And it is a tough matchup for Chris," Bird said. "On the other 
      hand, we felt that Chris could get loose and hit some shots. That's very 
      important for our team. We got some scoring out of him."
      "I've always been told that there's a mismatch," Mullin said. "I think you 
      can take it personally. But the thing is to go out there and not try to do 
      something you can't do."
      Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy's decision to start Sprewell clearly 
      backfired. The explosive swingman encountered early foul problems, had 
      trouble staying with Mullin and took no shots in the first 11 minutes of 
      the fourth quarter, killing any chance of a comeback. He scored 12 points 
      on 6-of-14 shooting before fouling out. 
      "Mullin is smart," Sprewell said. "I played with him for a couple years 
      (at Golden State) and to actually guard him, he is constantly moving. He's 
      so smart with the ball that you know he's going to make something happen." 

      With a chance to push the Pacers to the brink of elimination, the Knicks 
      allowed Indiana to shoot 50 percent (33-of-66) from the field and hold a 
      41-30 rebounding edge. 
      "It doesn't matter who we start if we defend and rebound like that," Van 
      Gundy said. "We could start the assistant coaches and it wouldn't matter 
      if we don't guard. 
      "When you make changes, you're susceptible to second-guessing. If it 
      doesn't work, you know, then some people are going to second-guess." 
             Dale Davis was one of five Pacers to score in double-figures in 
            Game 4. (AP Photo) 


      While the Knicks shortened their bench by moving their best sub into the 
      starting lineup, the Pacers showed their depth. They won rather handily 
      despite leading scorers Reggie Miller and Rik Smits combining for zero 
      points in the first half. Miller finished with 12 points and Smits scored 
      just four, all in the third quarter. 
      "When you play against Indiana and you think it's about just Miller or 
      Miller and Smits, you're making a mistake," Van Gundy said. "We've got to 
      guard everybody they put out there." 
      Indiana improved to 4-1 on the road in the postseason and hosts Game 5 on 
      Wednesday. Game 6 is Friday in New York, with the series winner advancing 
      to the NBA Finals to face the San Antonio Spurs, who now have 10 days 
      between games. 
      "I wouldn't necessarily say we're at ease," Miller said. "You're always on 
      edge. The series is 2-2.  But it's nice to regain and recapture home 
      court." 
      Marcus Camby had 18 points and 14 rebounds for New York. Allan Houston 
      scored 14 points but was shut out in the fourth quarter and made just 
      5-of-16 shots. The Knicks shot 41 percent (33-of-80). 
      New York cut a 16-point third-quarter deficit to 66-59 as Camby opened the 
      fourth quarter with a huge dunk. Consecutive jumpers by Rose widened the 
      lead to 73-64 with 7:07 to go and after a layup by Chris Childs, Antonio 
      Davis completed a three-point play for a 76-66 advantage with 5 minutes 
      left.
      Sprewell and Houston were nowhere to be found but Kurt Thomas hit a jumper 
      to make it 78-70. The left-handed Rose responded with a tough right-handed 
      drive and drew the foul. He made a scoring motion to the crowd and sank 
      the free throw for an 81-70 bulge with 4:28 to play. 
      "The players out there are feeding off that crowd," Rose said. "They are 
      feeding off their emotions and they are feeding off their intensity. If 
      you can keep them at bay, keep them around eight or 10, everybody is going 
      to look up at the score and realize they are not closing ground. And we 
      know they will turn on their team just like we want them to." 
      Miller shot just 3-of-10 in another quiet game but sank two free throws 
      and a runner that he turned into a three-point play for an 86-74 lead with 
      1:13 left, sending the sellout crowd at Madison Square Garden streaming 
      for the exits. 
      Antonio Davis had 16 points and eight rebounds and Dale Davis added 10 and 
      12 for the Pacers, who outscored the Knicks 22-9 at the line. Indiana shot 
      just three 3-pointers, making two.
      Smits was not even sweating when he returned to the bench with his second 
      foul just 30 seconds into the game. Miller joined him four minutes later 
      and Sprewell scored two early hoops. 
      "They were going for the jugular," Rose said. "They front-loaded their 
      lineup to get their scorers off early." 
      But Mullin was working Sprewell, who took a seat with his second foul 
      midway through the period. Mullin made a 15-footer that gave Indiana the 
      lead for good at 12-10 with 4 minutes to go in the first quarter.

            Latrell (Sprewell) has to think about fouls. He has to realize how 
            important he is. 
             Knicks forward Kurt Thomas, on Sprewell fouling out

      "I made a silly foul and then one that was kind of questionable," Sprewell 
      said. "You think you're going pretty good and then you have to sit." 
      "Spree was gonna go out there and play his game," said Thomas, who moved 
      to the bench so Sprewell could start. "Latrell has to think about fouls. 
      He has to realize how important he is." 
      Rose came on and scored six quick points as the Pacers took a 23-20 lead 
      after one quarter. Reserve guard Fred Hoiberg, who had not played since 
      Game 2 of the first round, opened the second period with a basket that 
      triggered an 11-4 burst fueled by the bench. A free throw by Derrick McKey 
      made it 34-24 with 6:05 to go. 
      Camby's layup cut the deficit to six points before the Pacers closed the 
      period with another 11-4 run. Antonio Davis scored five points in the 
      burst, including a layup that provided a 45-32 halftime edge. 
      Outscored by Hoiberg in the first half, Smits and Miller both made baskets 
      in the first four minutes of the third quarter, helping hold off an early 
      surge by the Knicks. 
      With the margin pared to eight points, Mullin gave control back to the 
      Pacers. He made a 3-pointer and 20-footer, then drew a foul on a 3-pointer 
      and sank three free throws, giving Indiana its largest lead at 58-42 with 
      6:28 left. 
      "Chris Mullin was in a zone," Pacers guard Mark Jackson said. "I told him 
      it was like he turned back time. He was hitting shots, being aggressive. 
      He was phenomenal." 
      "He just did a great job," Sprewell said. "He did an excellent job of 
      moving without the ball." 
       

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            Knicks postgame quotes: Game 4
            Pacers postgame quotes: Game 4
            Star/News: Pacers Turn Adversity into Victory
            VIDEO
            Pacers at Knicks (W, 90-78) 
            See complete Game 4 highlights:
            28.8+ | ISDN+ 
            Pacers at Knicks (W, 90-78) 
            Reggie Miller puts the finishing touches on Game 4 with the leaning 
            bank in the closing moments.
            864k avi | QuickTime 
            Knicks vs. Pacers (L, 78-90) 
            Charlie Ward penetrates and dishes to Marcus Camby who finishes 
            strong with the two-hand flush.
            916k avi | QuickTime 
            Pacers at Knicks (W, 90-78) 
            Chris Mullin manages to create some space despite a double team and 
            drills the long-range jumper.
            997k avi | QuickTime 
            Knicks vs. Pacers (L, 78-90) 
            Marcus Camby takes advantage of the mismatch with Reggie Miller as 
            he gets behind him for the easy layup.
            834k avi | QuickTime 



            AUDIO
            Listen to the Pacers' Game 4 Postgame Press Conference.
            RealAudio

            Listen to the Knicks' Game 4 Postgame Press Conference.
            RealAudio

            Pacers head coach Larry Bird was pleasantly surprised by the 
            all-around production of his team in Game 4.
            91k wav | RealAudio

            Knicks head coach Jeff Van Gundy says that defense will be the key 
            for New York to succeed against the Pacers.
            229k wav | RealAudio

            Reggie Miller knows that the Pacers need to take advantage of their 
            opportunities now.
            176k wav | RealAudio

            Chris Mullin is pleased with the energy that the Pacers showed in 
            Game 4.
            128k wav | RealAudio

            Reggie Miller puts the ices the Pacers' win by nailing the jumper 
            while getting fouled late in the fourth.
            134k wav | RealAudio

            Brent Musburger and Dr. Jack Ramsay voice their approval as Chris 
            Mullin nails another jumper in the third quarter.
            170k wav | RealAudio

            Jalen Rose drives and lofts up the scoop layup while drawing the 
            foul to give the Pacers a boost in the fourth quarter.
            175k wav | RealAudio







