Pacers lose on day after
Limited to six players one night after brawling with fans, the Indiana Pacers dropped an 86-83 decision to the Orlando Magic Saturday night in Indianapolis
With leading scorers Ron Artest, Jermaine O’Neal and Stephen Jackson, suspended indefinitely by the NBA earlier in the day following an ugly fight with fans Friday night in Detroit, the short-handed Pacers managed to stay close against the Magic.
But Grant Hill made four free throws in the final 12 seconds and finished with 28 points for Orlando.
Fred Jones scored a career-best 31 points and rookie David Harrison added 19 for the Pacers.
Artest, O’Neal, Jackson and Detroit’s Ben Wallace took part in one of the worst brawls in United States sports history.
The league and police were investigating the melee. Artest, O’Neal and Jackson, who threw punches at spectators in the stands or on the court at the end of the Pacers-Pistons game, began serving their suspensions.
Wallace’s suspension will start at home tonight against Charlotte.
The exact length of the four players’ bans could be announced as early as today.
Indiana stayed close throughout. The Pacers held a four-point lead in the first period and had a 69-67 advantage after two free throws by Austin Croshere four minutes into the fourth quarter.
Hill tied the game and put Orlando in front again after a turnover by Croshere. Harrison tied the game at 71, but Steve Francis and Hill made consecutive baskets and the Magic never surrendered the lead.
Timberwolves 99, Hornets 94: Eddie Griffin scored 23 points and Kevin Garnett added 20, despite a shoulder injury, to lift Minnesota to a win in New Orleans. Griffin made three 3-pointers to go with several dunks, layups and mid-range jumpers. He scored 12 points in the third quarter to help Minnesota build a double-digit cushion it carried through much of the second half.
Rockets 91, Clippers 86 (OT): Tracy McGrady scored five of his 32 points in overtime, helping Houston hold off Los Angeles for a road win. The Rockets, who lost four of their previous five, opened a four-game road trip with their seventh straight win over the Clippers.
Jazz 92, Hawks 79: Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and Utah pulled away to win in Atlanta. Utah made 11 of 12 free throws in the final 4:18 to fend off a comeback attempt by Atlanta.
Cavaliers 100, Bobcats 84: LeBron James scored 25 points, Jeff McInnis added a season-high 24 and Cleveland won its sixth straight by beating visiting Charlotte. McInnis scored seven straight points during an 11-0 run late in the third quarter.
Wizards 97, Nets 86: Larry Hughes scored 10 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter as Washington beat the woeful Nets in East Rutherford, N.J. Antawn Jamison added 27 points for Washington.
Grizzlies 100, Warriors 87: Stromile Swift scored 20 points and had 12 rebounds to help Memphis win in Oakland, Calif. Bonzi Wells added 17 points as the Grizzlies won on the road for the second time in three games.