INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Reserves Austin Croshere and Travis Best
each scored 20 points as the Indiana Pacers beat the Atlanta Hawks
99-94 in a preseason game Thursday night.
Reggie Miller added 17 points, Al Harrington had 14 and Jermanie
O'Neal had 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 16 points and eight rebounds for
Atlanta, which beat the Pacers 97-95 on Tuesday night in the preseason opener for both teams.
Harrington had six of his points when Indiana took the lead for
good with a 10-2 run in the fourth quarter. Jonathan Bender's
jumper ignited the run, reducing Indiana's deficit to three at
77-74 with 9:27 to play.
A dunk by O'Neal after Harrington pulled down an offensive
rebound made it 77-76. Moments later, Harrington had two
consecutive baskets to put Indiana ahead to stay 80-79.
Croshere's two free throws made it 84-79 with six minutes
remaining. Atlanta pulled within three points four times after
that, but could draw no closer.
The Pacers helped themselves by getting Atlanta into early foul
trouble in nearly every period. Indiana was 32-for-46 from the line,
while Atlanta shot 86 percent but had only 28 attempts.
Atlanta played the final three quarters without Toni Kukoc, who
removed his sneakers in the second quarter and put ice on his
knees. He sat out the second half in civilian clothes, but there
was no announcement of any injury.
Atlanta also played without Theo Ratliff, who was not in uniform
because of a sore right hip and sore right groin.