Tinsley lifts Pacers over Spurs

04.1.2007

Indianapolis, IN (Basketball News) - Jamaal Tinsley drove to the lane for a layup with 1.1 seconds remaining as the Jermaine O’Neal-less Indiana Pacers battled to a 100-99 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

With 6.3 seconds left in the game and the score knotted at 98-98, Manu Ginobili crashed the lane hard and was fouled by Indiana’s Ike Diogu. Ginobili, though, was able to hit just 1-of-2 free throws to give San Antonio a tenuous one-point lead.

On the Pacers’ ensuing possession, Tinsley snuck past Tim Duncan for a layup to put Indiana in front. The Spurs had one last chance to win it with .3 seconds remaining, but Duncan’s hook shot as time expired was well off.

Mike Dunleavy scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Pacers, who moved within 1 1/2 games behind Orlando for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Tinsley and Troy Murphy each finished with 20 points for Indiana, with Tinsley dishing out eight assists.

O’Neal, the team’s leading scorer, sat out with a sore left knee.

Tony Parker scored 22 points and had seven rebounds and seven assists for the Spurs, who saw their six-game winning streak come to an end and fell three games behind Phoenix for the second seed in the Western Conference.

Duncan ended with 17 points and 11 rebounds for San Antonio, but turned the ball over seven times.

Trailing 84-80 early in the fourth quarter, the Spurs ripped off a 16-4 spurt — capped by back-to-back baskets by Duncan — to take a 96-88 with less than four minutes to play before the Pacers rallied for the win.

Tinsley converted a three-point play before hitting a jumper to bring Indiana within 97-95 with just under two minutes to play. Bruce Bowen then had a chance to give the Spurs some breathing room when he was fouled on a three- pointer. However, Bowen made just one of his three free throw attempts and Murphy’s trey at the other end tied the game at 98-98.

San Antonio led 32-26 after the opening 12 minutes and took a slim 54-53 into the locker room. Things remained tight heading into the fourth with Indiana leading 77-76.

Game Notes

Diogu finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Pacers...Michael Finley scored 17 points off the bench for the Spurs.

IND SAN

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