Pacers, Mavericks win, square series

The NBA’s most resilient team bounced back again.

Jermaine O’Neal scored 22 points, Reggie Miller had 19 and Jeff Foster grabbed 20 rebounds Wednesday night to lead the Indiana Pacers past the Detroit Pistons 92-83 in Game 2 at Auburn Hills, Mich., tying their Eastern Conference semifinal series at one game apiece.

The Pacers trailed for two-plus quarters before taking over with an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter. They lost 96-81 in Game 1.

Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince scored 24, Rasheed Wallace and Richard Hamilton each had 14 and Chauncey Billups scored 13.

The next two games in the best-of-seven series are in Indianapolis on Friday night and Sunday afternoon.

“Pacers forward Ron Artest told ESPN that he thought his season-long suspension for the Nov. 19 brawl in Detroit was “a bit harsh.”

Artest discussed his suspension in an interview broadcast Wednesday.

Mavericks 108, Suns 106: At Phoenix, Dirk Nowitzki sank a 12-footer with 6.8 seconds remaining to give Dallas a rugged victory over Phoenix, squaring their best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series 1-1.

Quentin Richardson’s 3-point attempt for Phoenix bounced off the back rim at the buzzer.

Michael Finley scored 31 points, shooting 5-of-6 on 3-pointers, and Nowitzki added 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Mavericks.

Game 3 is Friday at Dallas.

Wizards won’t reinstate Brown

The Washington Wizards won’t lift Kwame Brown’s suspension for the rest of the playoffs, leaving the frontcourt perilously thin following an injury to Etan Thomas.

Coach Eddie Jordan said Wednesday there was no chance for a reinstatement for Brown, who was suspended a week ago for what the team described as “philosophical differences.”

“Everything remains the same,” Jordan said.