NBA Game Summary - Indiana at Portland

Portland, OR (Basketball News) - Stephen Jackson scored 24 points as the Indiana Pacers snapped a three-game losing streak and spoiled the debut of Portland’s new head coach with a 106-97 decision over the Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden.

Jackson went 9-of-20 from the floor, hitting three crucial fourth quarter baskets for Indiana, which played without All-Star and leading scorer Jermaine O’Neal. O’Neal was placed on the injured list prior to Friday’s game with a shoulder injury.

Reggie Miller managed 24 points, while Fred Jones added 23 points, eight assists and six rebounds in the victory.

Leading Portland, which played its first game under the direction of interim coach Kevin Pritchard, who replaced the recently fired Maurice Cheeks, was Shareef Abdur-Rahim with 27 points on 11-of-18 shooting.

Darius Miles added 26 points, Damon Stoudamire had 12 points, nine assists and five rebounds and rookie Sebastian Telfair chipped in 10 in the loss.

Relieved of his duties on Wednesday, Cheeks’ team had posted a disappointing 22-33 record and is poised to miss the postseason for the second straight year after a string of 21 straight playoff appearances was snapped last season.

"I’m just glad we gave a nice little effort," Miles said. "Things have been down around here. Everybody’s been kind of sad because Cheeks left. It’s good to just have the players have energy. You know, get out there and take your frustration out on the other team."

Portland has now dropped three straight games and eight of its last 10 overall.

"Make no mistake, our effort tonight was great," Pritchard said. "This was the first day of a new experience for them and they could have reacted differently. They took the challenge."

The teams were tied 85-85 with a little more than six minutes remaining in the contest before Indiana used an 8-0 run to seize its largest lead of the game. Scot Pollard hit a jumper, Miller drained a three-pointer and Jones converted a three-point play to cap the run as the Pacers held a 93-85 advantage.

Portland fought back and tied the game 97-97 with two minutes on the clock, but Jones answered with a three-pointer on Indiana’s next possession. Moments later, Jackson drilled a deep jumper, extending the Pacers’ lead to 102-97 with less the 90 seconds to play, and Indiana hit free throws to seal the victory.

"I thought the key was when Jones hit a tough-shot three-pointer after an air ball," Pritchard said. "I believe the score was tied at the time and if we had stopped them it would have different story. But you’ve got to give Indiana credit."

The game was tied 24-24 after the first quarter and Portland outscored Indiana 30-24 in the second quarter to take a 54-48 advantage into intermission.

Miles led all scorers with 16 points at the break as Portland converted 56 percent of its shots.

Indiana came out of the locker room and outscored the Trail Blazers, 28-24, in the third quarter to head into the final 12 minutes.