NBA Game Summary - Indiana at Boston

Boston, MA (Basketball News) - Reggie Miller scored 28 points and the Indiana Pacers overcame a seven-point fourth quarter deficit to defeat the Boston Celtics, 82-79, in Game 2 of their first-round playoff matchup at the FleetCenter.

Miller, who had 18 first-half points, hit a key jumper down the stretch for the Pacers, who evened this Eastern Conference best-of-seven series at one game apiece. Stephen Jackson added 20 points for Indiana, which will host Game 3 Thursday night.

Paul Pierce had 33 points and seven rebounds, but missed a potential game- tying three-pointer in the final seconds, for the Celtics, who went cold from the field in the fourth.

Boston hit only one basket from the floor over the final eight minutes and Indiana took advantage to steal homecourt away from the third-seeded, Atlantic Division champion Celtics.

After Ricky Davis’ bucket gave Boston a 75-68 lead with 8:22 remaining, the Celtics’ drought ensued.

Neither team would score for the next 2 1/2 minutes, but a Jackson dunk started Indiana’s 14-4 burst that ended the game.

With 1:40 remaining, Jackson tied the game at 78-78 with a dunk. Then, 32 seconds later, Anthony Johnson’s jumper gave Indiana the lead for good, 80-78.

Pierce followed by hitting 1-of-2 from the line, but Miller drained a clutch jumper with 37 seconds left to make it a three-point game.

After Johnson missed a jumper with six seconds left, Boston called a timeout to set up one last chance. Inbounding just over half court, Pierce took the pass and missed a turn-around three-pointer with three seconds on the clock to seal the game.

Antoine Walker ended with 19 points and seven boards for the Celtics, who got off to a slow start.

Indiana ran out to a 13-2 lead to start the game. Jackson hit three straight from beyond the arc to cap the early burst. He later drained three consecutive free throws to end the first-quarter scoring and send the Pacers into the second frame with a 30-22 edge.

Boston responded in the second. Down 37-30 the Celtics went on a 12-3 run to take their first lead of the game, 42-40. Walker had seven points during the surge, which was capped by a Pierce three-pointer with 1:09 remaining.

Indiana, however, scored the final seven points of the half to go into the break with a 47-42 lead.

After halftime, Pierce took over, scoring 17 points in the third quarter. Indiana held the lead for most the period, but a pair of Pierce free throws with 3:40 remaining gave Boston its first lead of the half, 62-61.

Jeff Foster connected on a three-point play next time down the court to help the Pacers regain the lead, 64-62. However, a Walker tip-in tied the game with three minutes left. Then, Pierce drained a three with 2:21 on the clock to put Boston ahead, 67-64, and the Celtics went into the final 12 minutes with a 69-64 advantage.

Jermaine O’Neal had 13 points and six rebounds for the Pacers, who shot 41 percent from the field for the game. Indiana also connected on 8-of-19 from three-point distance.

Boston shot 39 percent from the field, but hit only 3-of-13 from beyond the arc.