Pacers, Pistons battle at Conseco Fieldhouse

This is the fourth and final meeting of the campaign between the Central Division rivals. The Pacers have won two of the three contests this season, while the Pistons have won four of the last six meetings overall in the series.

Detroit has lost two of its last three at Indiana.

The Pistons lead the Cleveland Cavaliers by 3 1/2 games for first place in the Central and the top spot in the Eastern Conference. On Sunday, Richard Hamilton paced a balanced Detroit attack with 19 points as the Pistons edged the defending world champion Miami Heat, 94-88, at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Hamilton, the Pistons leading scorer (20.3 ppg), returned to the lineup after missing four games with flu-like symptoms.

Chauncey Billups added 17 points in the win for the Pistons, who have won two in a row and four of their last five games overall. Rasheed Wallace finished with 14 points, while Antonio McDyess and Carlos Delfino both netted 12 off the bench.

Detroit is 24-13 on the road this season. The Pistons return home to host the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday and the Cavaliers on Sunday at The Palace.

Indiana, which wraps up a short two-game homestand, is 1 1/2 games behind the Orlando Magic for the eighth and final playoff berth in the East. Jamaal Tinsley drove to the lane for a layup with 1.1 seconds remaining as the Jermaine O’Neal-less Pacers earned a 100-99 victory over the San Antonio Spurs at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Mike Dunleavy scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the win for the Pacers, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Tinsley, who handed out eight assists, and Troy Murphy both finished with 20 points for Indiana.

O’Neal, the team’s leading scorer (19.8 ppg) and rebounder (9.8 rpg), sat out with a sore left knee. The All-Star forward is questionable for tonight’s contest.

The Pacers are 21-16 at home this season. They will visit rookie Adam Morrison and the Charlotte Bobcats on Friday.