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Heat off Pacers as they await next team
Jermaine O'Neal didn't have to score a bunch of points to leave his mark on the most important game of Indiana's season.
But he grabbed 13 rebounds and had three blocked shots, including a huge one in the closing minutes to help the Pacers advance to the Eastern Conference finals.
With the Heat surging and the Pacers clinging to a 71-67 lead, Miami forward Caron Butler elevated along the baseline for a dunk. But O'Neal swooped down the lane and emphatically blocked the would-be slam, and the Pacers held on for the win.
O'Neal had to leave the game briefly after being poked in the eye by Butler on the play, but returned in time to force Eddie Jones into an airball as the shot clock wound down, setting up two crucial free throws from Anthony Johnson with 14.7 seconds to play.
"I'll take a game like this all day, scoring seven points, blocking a couple of shots, getting some rebounds and getting the win," O'Neal said after the 73-70 win. "That's what it's about. A championship team does that."
Game 1 of the conference finals is Saturday in Indianapolis. The Pacers will face the winner of the New Jersey-Detroit series, which concludes with Game 7 on Thursday night in Detroit.
Becoming the first team to win a game in Miami since Toronto way back on March 2 seems to have galvanized the Pacers, who say they are more united than ever heading into their first conference finals since 2000.
"Heading into this series, people predicted a sweep, but we knew it was going to be much tougher than that," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "As the series went, some people bailed out on us. Most people predicted Miami to win (Tuesday) night's game and there was no reason not to. The challenge was to stare the great challengers in the face — and that is this building, their team — and to find a way."
Said O'Neal: "That's what it's going to take for us to get out of the Eastern Conference and get to the NBA Finals (news - web sites)."
O'Neal's performance was a microcosm of the Pacers' season. While struggling on offense, he did so many other things to contribute, and got help from his teammates to produce a victory.
Ron Artest led the way with 27 points and Reggie Miller added 15 after scoring a combined seven points in Games 3 and 4 in Miami.
"You have to put forth an above-and-beyond-type effort, especially on the road," Miller said. "We are finding ways to win ballgames."
In doing so, the Pacers have gained two significant advantages over their opponent in the next round.
First, by winning an NBA-best 61 games during the regular season, the Pacers will have homecourt advantage in the next series and the NBA Finals, should they advance. Indiana has won 13 straight at Conseco Fieldhouse, including all five playoff games.
The Pacers also will have three days to rest and prepare for Game 1, while the Pistons or Nets will have just one day.
Indiana did not practice on Wednesday, but O'Neal said before Game 6 against Miami that having an extra day or two to prepare while the Pistons and Nets slug it out would be ideal.
"Having a couple days to break a team down, seeing what their strengths and weaknesses are, that's perfect for us," O'Neal said. "It's set up perfect for us. We have to take full advantage of it." |
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