Indiana Pacers Team Report - March 18

(Basketball News) - Ron Artest scored 21 points and Reggie Miller added 18, as the Indiana Pacers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, 80-71, on Wednesday at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Al Harrington chipped in 12 points and eight rebounds for Indiana, which has won eight of its last nine games. Jermaine O’Neal collected 10 points and 10 boards in the win.

The Pacers have won five in a row at home and improved to 26-6 as the host this season.

Indiana is off until Friday when it hosts the Sacramento Kings. This is the second and final contest of the season between the two teams. On December 7th, Sacramento defeated the Pacers, 91-88, at ARCO Arena.

The Pacers are in first place in the Central Division, 7 1/2 games ahead of the Detroit Pistons. Indiana is also the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Artest has averaged 21 points and 5.5 rebounds in his last two games, while Miller has averaged 10.9 points in his last 10 contests.