Pacers topple Celtics

Keith McLeod added 17 points and Jermaine O’Neal had 14 points and 14 boards for the Pacers, who have won three of their last four games. Troy Murphy donated 16 points and Danny Granger 15 for Indiana, which remains one game behind Orlando for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Allen Ray scored 22 points and Sebastian Telfair 21 for Boston, which has lost four of its last five games. Rajon Rondo had 14 points and eight assists and Leon Powe registered 15 points for the Celtics, who were without Paul Pierce who missed the game with a sore left elbow.

Boston pulled to within six, 90-84 with 4:40 left on Ray’s layup thanks in part to eight Pacers turnovers in the final quarter. McLeod, however, ended any chance of a Celtics comeback with back-to-back three-point plays putting the Pacers up 96-84 with 3:11 showing on the clock.

Indiana overcame 26 turnovers with a 54.4 percent shooting percentage and a 42-36 rebounding edge.

Indiana came out very active on the defensive end, holding Boston to 15 first quarter points. They also shot 65 percent on their way to a 26-15 lead after 12 minutes. Dunleavy scored 10 points in the period.

The Pacers held a 51-43 lead at the intermission.

Indiana went on an 11-0 run early in the third, giving the Pacers a 62-46 cushion with a little over nine minutes to go in the frame. Murphy scored nine points during the spurt.

The lead reached as high as 18, 66-48 on two Granger free throws moments later.

The Celtics were able to cut the margin to 11, 78-67 at the end of three quarters.

Game Notes

Boston’s Al Jefferson (bruised left knee) and Delonte West (sprained left ankle) missed the game for Boston...Indiana’s Jamaal Tinsley (sore right elbow) and C Jeff Foster (back spasms) also did not play...The Pacers won the season series with the Celtics, 3-1.