T-Wolves Even Series, Pacers Keep Rolling

MINNEAPOLIS – While the Minnesota Timberwolves had to fight past the Sacramento Kings to even their second-round playoff series, the Indiana Pacers extended their record-breaking run against the Miami Heat. Sam Cassell’s clutch shooting helped Minnesota rally from 10 points down in the final four minutes to beat Sacramento 94-89 Saturday night and even their series at a game apiece.

The Pacers, meanwhile, went up 2-0 on the Heat with a 91-80 victory, Indiana’s NBA-record sixth straight double-digit playoff victory.

Cassell scored eight points in the final three minutes, Kevin Garnett had 28 points and 11 rebounds and the Timberwolves closed with a 16-1 run to prevent the Kings from taking a commanding 2-0 series lead back to Sacramento.

“If we had lost this one,” Cassell said, “it would’ve been a long night.”

Game 3 is Monday night at raucous Arco Arena, where Minnesota was the only visitor this season to win twice. The Kings, though, have won eight of their last nine playoff games at home and are 138-26 there during the last four regular seasons.

That’s why winning this game was absolutely critical to the top-seeded Timberwolves’ chance of winning this series.

“This was a game we definitely should’ve had, but we gave it away,” said Mike Bibby, who went from 69 points in his previous two games to just 10 points in this one. He shot 4-for-17 while being hounded much of the night by Latrell Sprewell.

Peja Stojakovic had 26 points and seven rebounds for Sacramento, which used a 16-2 spurt to go up 88-78 on Doug Christie’s layup with 4:11 left after trailing the majority of the game.

But the Kings started rushing their offense, and suddenly Christie became their primary option, with Bibby and leading-scorer Stojakovic just watching the disintegration.

“We had good looks, you know?” coach Rick Adelman said. “I thought we could’ve been a little more patient. We were trying to attack them so fast.”

Cassell, who was quiet for most of the game after scoring 40 points in the Game 1 loss, scored 19 points and was squarely behind the rally. His jumper in the lane with 2:08 left pulled the Wolves to 88-87. Garnett, fouled by Brad Miller on a loose-ball scramble that knocked over referee Sean Corbin, made two free throws to give Minnesota the lead with 1:45 remaining.

“This was about sheer will and determination,” Garnett said. “We’d been down to this team before. We feel if you keep digging and keep digging, you’ll get back in the game. … You don’t want to be down 2-0 to this type of team. This team has a lot of firepower.”

Christie, who had 15 points, missed a pair of foul shots on the other end, and Cassell knocked down a corner jumper with 24.6 seconds to go to make it 91-88.

Christie’s pressured 3-pointer from the corner, which would’ve tied the game, fell short with 10 seconds remaining.

Chris Webber had 21 points for the Kings, and Miller had 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Pacers 91, Heat 80

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Reggie Miller scored 19 points in 18 minutes to lead Indiana’s record-breaking performance. The previous mark for consecutive double-digit playoff victories was shared by the 1985 Los Angeles Lakers and 1947 Philadelphia Warriors.

Ron Artest had 20 points and five assists for the Pacers, who take a 2-0 series lead to Miami – where the Heat have won 16 straight games – for Monday’s Game 3.

And the Pacers don’t even think they’ve peaked, yet.

“We can play much better,” Miller said. “We’re finding ways to win, which is encouraging, but we have to play better.”

Miller got the Pacers rolling with a 3-pointer off one leg with Eddie Jones’ hand in his face to beat the second-quarter buzzer. The 38-year-old Miller was 6-for-10 from the field with three 3-pointers

“Reggie Miller just killed us,” Heat coach Stan Van Gundy said. “He’s done it before. We’re not the first team he’s done it to. It’s not a coincidence when he makes big shots.”

The Heat were in it in the first half, despite shooting just 37 percent from the floor. Jones hit two free throws to bring Miami within five before a critical mistake at the buzzer.

With 1.6 seconds to play in the half, Jones allowed Miller to catch an inbounds lob at the top of the key. Miller heaved a shot that swished at the buzzer for a 44-36 lead.

“The one going into the half was a heartbreaker for us,” said Heat guard Dwyane Wade, who had 19 points, five assists and six turnovers.

Miller hit two 3s in the first 4:30 of the second half to hold off the hard-charging Heat.

Lamar Odom led Miami with 19 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out with 4:05 to play. Miami battled throughout, but again got bogged down in the Pacers’ preferred halfcourt style.

After outscoring the Pacers 14-0 in transition in Game 1, the Heat managed just eight fastbreak points on Saturday and couldn’t find good shots against the Pacers’ suffocating halfcourt defense.