Indiana Pacers Team Report - February 23

(Basketball News) - Jermaine O’Neal poured in a team-high 21 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, as the Indiana Pacers defeated the Utah Jazz 94-80 on Sunday at Conseco Fieldhouse.

O’Neal was three blocks shy of a triple-double and finished 13-of-15 from the free throw line. Austin Croshere added 15 points and Al Harrington contributed 14 for the Pacers, who won their second straight game.

Indiana has now won five of its last six contests, despite losing head coach Rick Carlisle, who was tossed from the game late the second quarter. Carlisle ran onto the court to argue a call that was made on Reggie Miller. Assistant Mike Brown took over from that point.

The opening minutes of the quarter were tightly played with Utah taking a 54-51 lead on Raja Bell’s free throw with around seven minutes left in the frame.

The Pacers would answer with an 8-1 run, forging ahead by four points. Two free throws by Harrington capped the spurt, making it a 59-55 game with under six minutes remaining in the quarter.

Moments later Jarron Collins’ two free throws sparked Utah to a 9-0 burst. Andrei Kirilenko’s three-pointer from the corner capped the spurt, as the Jazz regained the lead, 64-59 with under four minutes left in the frame.

However, the Pacers outscored the Jazz 8-2 to close out the quarter to take a one point lead into the final frame. Jonathan Bender’s breakaway dunk as time was expiring gave the Pacers the lead for good at 67-66.

Indiana started to pull away in the middle of the fourth. An O’Neal pull-up jumper from the top of the key staked the Pacers to an 81-70 contest. Two free throws by O’Neal increased the advantage to 15 points at 92-77 with 2:09 left, sealing the victory for Indiana.

The Pacers are off until Tuesday when they host the Golden State Warriors.