Miller Rescues the Pacers Just at Right Time

INDIANAPOLIS — Reggie Miller did what Reggie Miller does.

After missing his first six shots, Miller made a three-point basket with 31.7 seconds left to end the game’s final tie and lead the Indiana Pacers past the Detroit Pistons, 78-74, Saturday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

“You knew it was coming,” Indiana’s Jermaine O’Neal said. “He’s going to make one big-time shot, and he thrives on the biggest shot.”

Miller’s 13-year career has been marked by his clutch shooting, particularly in the playoffs and often from three-point range.

Fans of the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets have seen Miller make several clutch three-pointers, and now Piston fans have experienced that same feeling.

“When he shot it, I pretty much knew he was going to make it,” said Detroit’s Richard Hamilton, who was defending Miller on the play. “The guy’s been making those shots all his career.”

With the score tied, 74-74, O’Neal missed a difficult turnaround jumper from the left baseline. Jeff Foster tipped the rebound to a teammate, and the Pacers had another chance.

Miller broke free off a screen set by Foster, took a pass from Jamaal Tinsley and made the basket to make it 77-74.

“All I need is to have a half-second of daylight,” Miller said. “Law of averages. You’re either a hero or goat. It’s a 50-50 shot, and I’ll take my chances. I practice that shot every day.”

Hamilton missed a three-point shot and O’Neal was fouled on the rebound with 19.8 seconds left, but he missed both free throws to give the Pistons another chance.

Chauncey Billups and Rasheed Wallace each airballed a three-point shot, and Miller made the second of two free throws with 6.6 seconds left to seal Indiana’s 14th consecutive home victory.

“There’s seven seconds on the clock, we’re in the penalty and we airball a three. We can’t win that way,” said Coach Larry Brown, who said he feels his team has less offensive talent than an Indiana team that presents tough matchup problems.

Game 2 is Monday night in Indianapolis.

Miller helped the Pacers overcome a fourth-quarter drought in which they were held scoreless for nearly four minutes.

O’Neal led Indiana with 21 points and 14 rebounds, Ron Artest scored 17 points, Al Harrington had 14 and Tinsley 13.

Hamilton scored 23 points, Billups had 18 and Ben Wallace had 11 points and 22 rebounds for the Pistons, who got four points, five fouls and three turnovers from Rasheed Wallace, whose only comment was to guarantee a Game 2 victory.

“Put it front page, back page, middle of the page. They will not win Game 2,” Wallace said.

Indiana won despite shooting 33%, getting outrebounded, 47-41, and being held to 30 second-half points -- 13 in the third quarter and 17 in the fourth.

“That’s pretty much what I was expecting,” O’Neal said. “There weren’t any surprises out there tonight.”

Hamilton scored the first four points of the fourth quarter as part of an 11-0 run that gave the Pistons a 64-61 lead.

Indiana responded with an 11-4 run, including six points from O’Neal, to go ahead, 72-68, with 5:19 to play, but the Pacers then went nearly four minutes without a point.

In the end, though, Miller rendered that drought insignificant.

“That one time you kind of let up a little, he burns you,” Brown said. “That’s why he is so special and has been so special.”