Pacers Have Plenty to Hold Down Spurs

The story of Indiana’s victory over San Antonio can be told with the number 33.

Getting 33 points from its reserves and holding the Spurs to a season-low 33% shooting from the field, the Pacers won for the fifth time in seven games, defeating the Spurs, 92-82, at San Antonio on Friday night.

Al Harrington came off the bench to lead Indiana with 18 points as the Pacers ended a two-game losing streak. Jermaine O’Neal scored 16 points, Jeff Foster had 14 and Reggie Miller 13. Austin Croshere had 10 points and 14 rebounds for the Pacers.

“I thought both teams competed well tonight,� Indiana Coach Isiah Thomas said. “Defensively our intensity was great. There was a lot of emotion in this game, I think that’s why it seemed a little crazy at times.�

San Antonio, which had a two-game winning streak stopped, was led by Tim Duncan with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Steve Smith had 12 points.

“I think it was a pitiful performance on our part,� said San Antonio Coach Gregg Popovich, who was ejected after receiving two technicals with 9:35 remaining in the second quarter. “Give Indiana credit, they had energy and played aggressive. They played to win.�

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Minnesota 93, Utah 86--Wally Szczerbiak scored a career-high 37 points as the Timberwolves rallied at Minneapolis as they ended the Jazz’s four-game winning streak.

Szczerbiak scored 26 points in the second half and shot 14 of 24 from the field, surpassing his previous career-high of 35 set Nov. 6 against the New York Knicks.

Philadelphia 87, Seattle 77--Allen Iverson started slowly and shot poorly but finished with 22 points to lead the 76ers at Seattle, ending the SuperSonics’ six-game winning streak.

Iverson, who shot one for six and had three points in the first quarter, played 43 minutes and shot eight for 21 as the 76ers won their second consecutive game on their longest road trip of the season--seven games in 12 days.

Toronto 101, Cleveland 91--Vince Carter scored 34 points at Toronto as the Raptors defeated the Cavaliers for the 10th consecutive time.

Antonio Davis and Alvin Williams had 17 points each for the Raptors, who have won six of eight. Carter also had eight assists.

Orlando 109, New Jersey 96--Tracy McGrady scored 35 points at East Rutherford, N.J., before being ejected along with Kenyon Martin of the Nets because of a late scuffle.

After Martin hammered McGrady with a forearm as he went up for a layup with the Magic ahead, 98-92, McGrady got off the floor and charged at Martin. The two bumped and shoved and Martin threw a jab before officials and teammates separated the two. Orlando outscored the Nets, 11-4, the rest of the way.

Miami 89, Boston 66--Eddie Jones scored 23 points and Brian Grant had 18 points and 12 rebounds as the Heat stopped the Celtics’ seven-game home winning streak.

The win, the second consecutive on the road for the Heat after a six-game losing streak, was Coach Pat Riley’s 300th with Miami.

Atlanta 113, Memphis 109--Shareef Abdur-Rahim, facing his former team for the first time, had 22 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Hawks at Memphis, Tenn.

Atlanta acquired Abdur-Rahim in an off-season trade for Lorenzen Wright, Brevin Knight and the rights to first-round pick Pau Gasol. Abdur-Rahim spent five seasons with the Grizzlies in Vancouver.