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Wednesday, Apr. 11 8:00pm ET
Miller throws seven 3-pointers at rival Knicks

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INDIANANPOLIS (AP) -- Forgive the Indiana Pacers for thinking about old times Wednesday night.

But New York was in town and it was close enough to the playoffs that it certainly had that old-time feel.

Reggie Miller
Reggie Miller got excited playing against old friends and rivals like Mark Jackson and the Knicks and hit seven 3-pointers to make the occasion.

Jalen Rose scored 25 points and had seven assists, while Reggie Miller scored 24 points and hit seven 3-pointers as the Pacers held on for a 100-93 victory over the Knicks -- clinching the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot.

"New York-Indiana: That's enough said. It's one of the great rivalries in sports," coach Isiah Thomas said. "I think the primary reason is probably because of Reggie. He lights up and does special things when he sees the Knicks."

Miller was doing that all night Wednesday.

He hit five of his first six 3-pointers, matched a season-high with seven 3s, and his free throw with 16.5 seconds left, following a technical foul, helped Indiana seal the victory.

The Pacers couldn't have asked for much more -- except to get into the playoffs. They managed that by winning their fifth consecutive game, their ninth in a row at home, coupled with Boston's 102-97 defeat against Miami.

"New York is a team that will give up an occasional 3," Rose said. "Fortunately, we have the ultimate 3-point shooter in the game."

It was more than just Miller, though.

The Pacers matched a record-high with 14 3-pointers against the NBA's top defensive unit.

And the Knicks started without two starters -- Larry Johnson and Allan Houston -- and lost a third, Marcus Camby, just 47 seconds into the game.

The Pacers took advantage after Camby crashed hard to the floor following a dunk on the game's first basket. He had to be helped off the court with a bruised left hip and didn't return.

"I think with guys being out like Allan and Marcus, we have to step up as a team," Glen Rice said. "Today, it wasn't working for us."

Instead, the Pacers hit four 3s in the first 7:23, which allowed them to build a 28-21 edge late in the first quarter.

Indiana was far from finished. It used a 9-4 spurt midway through the third quarter to extend the lead to 62-50, then watched the Knicks steadily rally to 79-77 with 6:34 left in the game.

"That's how New York is," Miller said. "It doesn't matter who is on the court because everyone plays the same way. Everyone plays hard."

But Travis Best hit a 12-footer and after Kurt Thomas hit one of two free throws, Miller hit a 3 from the right corner. Rose followed that with two free throws and a 10-footer to make it 88-78 with 4:40 to go.

Still, New York charged. The Knicks closed to 95-93 on two Thomas free throws with 16.5 seconds left. Thomas finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Latrell Sprewell and Mark Jackson each scored 15 points.

But Miller and Best combined for three free throws in the final 16.5 seconds to seal the victory and rekindle the memories.

"It was a typical matchup," Best said. "It definitely did feel like one of those old-time matchups."

Game notes
X-rays on Camby's hip were negative and he is listed as day-to-day. ... At halftime, the Pacers ran an extended report, with no sound, on the Celtics-Heat game. Not one player looked up. ... With seven assists Wednesday, Jalen Rose now has 2,000 in his career. ... New York had won four of five games before Wednesday night. ... Indiana has scored 118 points off 116 turnovers in its last eight games.

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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard

New York Clubhouse

Indiana Clubhouse

Knicks' Camby knocked out early in Pacers' game

Celtics out of playoffs thanks to latest defeat


RECAPS
Miami 102
Boston 97

Chicago 113
Washington 109

Atlanta 107
Cleveland 102

Detroit 99
Toronto 87

Indiana 100
New York 93

Phoenix 111
Dallas 106

Seattle 107
Golden State 101

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 Reggie Miller is happy to be making another trip to the NBA playoffs. (Courtesy TNT)
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