Anderson’s Big 3 Barely Sinks Pacers

It wasn’t a high percentage shot. It wasn’t a particularly smart shot at that point in the game. But it was a killer shot.

Nick Anderson’s 3-pointer with 13.9 seconds to play was the crucial score in an exciting 119-114 victory by the Orlando Magic over the Indiana Pacers Thursday night in the NBA Eastern Conference finals. The Magic leads, 2-0, with Game 3 in Indianapolis Saturday afternoon.

Anderson’s 3, the Magic’s 12th in 29 attempts, boosted Orlando’s lead to 116-111. It seemed the game was secure.

But not in this wonderfully crazy NBA postseason, no way. Reggie Miller, who finished with 37 points, banked in an off-balance 3-pointer and it was a two-point game again with the Pacers desperately trying to foul on the Magic’s ensuing possession.

They couldn’t. Horace Grant beat the defense down the floor, made a layup and was fouled. He made the free throw for the game’s final point.

Grant and Anderson were big at the end, but Shaquille O’Neal was the difference for the Magic. He scored 39, making 15 of 21 shots, and grabbed 10 rebounds. He had 17 points in the fourth quarter, including in a row before Anderson’s huge three-pointer.

The Magic shot 57.3 percent. Dennis Scott scored 25 points, including 7 of 15 threepointers, Anfernee Hardaway added 19 with 15 assists and Anderson finished with 17.

And Pacers coach Larry Brown wasn’t too thrilled with his defense.

“I don’t know what we can do,” Brown said. “They have guys hitting open shots. I think we’ve got to start guarding people. That would be a start.”

Anderson’s shot in the heart?

“Nick has been doing this regularly,” Brown said. “We fight our way back and he hits a big shot.”

Said Miller: “Nick’s shot was the dagger in the heart. He misses that and we tie it up and go into overtime. You’ve got to give him credit.”

The Pacers were fighting uphill all night. They led only twice, 2-0, and 109-108. The Magic led by 11 after the first quarter but was outscored in each of the last three. But the Pacers could never quite keep the lead.

In contrast to the opener Tuesday night, when the Pacers ran off to a 23-5 lead, it was the Magic that came out smoking. An 8-0 run, highlighted by three-point baskets by Hardaway and Scott, gave Orlando a 17-9 lead with 6:13 to play.

The Magic padded the lead to 11 by the end of the quarter, 34-23. Orlando made 12 of 20 shots from the floor (60 percent) and 5 of 10 from three-point range. Scott, who bedeviled the Pacers with three threepointers in the first quarter Tuesday scored 11 in Thursday’s first period. Hardaway also had 11, hitting four of five shots, including two of three three-pointers.

Continued bad news for the Pacers, who yielded 52.1 percent shooting to the Magic Tuesday night. This is a team that prides itself on defense, credits defense for its success. But defense was conspicuously lacking on the Magic’s perimeter shooting, especially Hardaway’s. He was getting open looks at the basket.

Orlando 1194, Indiana 114

INDIANA (114)

McKey 6-12 2-3 16, D.Davis 6-8 0-0 12, Smits 6-15 7-8 19, Jackson 3-9 0-0 8, Miller 12-18 9-11 37, A.Davis 2-4 0-1 4, Workman 1-5 2-2 5, Mitchell 1-1 0-0 2, B.Scott 1-6 9-9 11. Totals 38-78 29-34 114.

ORLANDO (119)

Grant 4-9 1-1 9, D.Scott 9-18 0-1 25, O’Neal 15-21 9-15 39, Hardaway 7-10 2-5 19, Anderson 6-11 3-4 17, Rollins 0-0 0-0 0, Shaw 1-4 4-4 6, Bowie 0-0 0-0 0, Turner 1-2 1-1 3, Royal 0-0 1-2 1, Avent 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 43-75 21-33 119.

Indiana 23 29 31 31 - 114

Orlando 34 27 28 30 - 119

3-Point goals-Indiana 9-20 (Miller 4-8, McKey 2-4, Jackson 2-4, Workman 1-3, B.Scott 0-1), Orlando 12-29 (D.Scott 7-15, Hardaway 3-5, Anderson 2-6, Turner 0-1, Shaw 0-2). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Indiana 44 (D.Davis 13), Orlando 45 (Grant 12). Assists-Indiana 21 (Smits 6), Orlando 31 (Hardaway 15). Total fouls-Indiana 29, Orlando 25. Technicals-Indiana illegal defense, Orlando illegal defenses 2. A-16,010 (16,010).