NBA Game Summary - Boston at Indiana

Indianapolis, IN (Basketball News) - Paul Pierce scored 30 points, dished out eight assists, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked five shots to lead the Boston Celtics to a 110-79 win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Ricky Davis added 15 for the Celtics, who evened this best-of-seven series at two games apiece despite playing without starting forward Antoine Walker. Davis, starting in place of Walker, hit 7-of-11 shots from the field and Pierce hit 10-of-15 shots, as the Celtics shot 57 percent from the floor as a team.

Walker will return from his one-game, league-imposed suspension when the series resumes Tuesday with Game 5 in Boston.

"Pierce was magnificent tonight," said Boston head coach Doc Rivers. "He did a great job of taking a shot when he had it and moving it he needed to. Ricky Davis did the same."

Delonte West and Gary Payton added 14 points apiece for the Atlantic Division champion Celtics, who regained homecourt advantage.

Stephen Jackson had a team-high 24 points for the Pacers, who struggled from the field. Indiana tied a franchise playoff low hitting just 21-of-78 from the floor for only 27 percent.

Reggie Miller, who led the Pacers in scoring the last two games, was held to only 12 points on 3-of-12 shooting.

Indiana never led in the game, but drew within striking distance early in the second half. Coming out of halftime, Indiana got within 58-56 courtesy of consecutive three-pointers and a free throw by James Jones with 7:49 left in the third.

That, however, would be as close as the Pacers would get. Boston ran off 12 straight points to regain a double-digit lead and the team cruised the rest of the way. Payton had four points during the run, which was capped by a Raef LaFrentz three-point play with four minutes left until the fourth for a 70-56 cushion.

Boston went into the final 12 minutes with a 78-63 advantage and coasted through the stanza, extending the lead to as many as 34 points.

"We were on our heals most of the night," Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle said. "It was a combination of them playing great and us not playing at our best."

Jermaine O’Neal had only nine points and five rebounds for the Pacers. It was O’Neal who got involved in the Game 3 altercation with Walker, who was ejected and eventually suspended for his actions.

With the game tied at 9-9 in the early stages, the Celtics went on a 18-5 run to take control. Pierce had six points during the run, capping it with a pair of free throws with 1:32 remaining for a 27-14 lead.

After going into the second down 31-20, Indiana began to get back into the game. A 12-4 run to open the stanza cut the deficit to 35-32. Miller drained a three-pointer with four minutes elapsed in the frame to cap the burst.

Pierce answered for the Celtics, sparking a 17-6 surge by scoring 12 during the run, which was finished off by a Davis three-pointer with 2:45 remaining for a 52-38 advantage.