Pacers Climb Over Warriors 101-87

In a season of continual losses and the Latrell Sprewell saga, Golden State fans finally had something to cheer about Friday night as one of the greatest players in franchise history took the floor.

Unfortunately for the Warriors, that player was wearing an Indiana Pacers uniform.

Chris Mullin,, who played 12 years for the Warriors before being traded to Indiana before this season, got several standing ovations in his homecoming game as the Pacers defeated the Warriors 101-87.

"In this day and age, you only see that when someone's retiring or you've won a championship," Mullin said. "It's nice to be recognized for doing the best you can. It didn't lead to championships or to the NBA finals, but people know I did my best."

Rik Smits scored 21 points and Indiana opened the fourth quarter with a 12-0 run to take command of the game. Fred Hoiberg scored all eight of his points in the opening 3:15 of the fourth period.

Reggie Miller had 19 points for Indiana and Antonio Davis added 15.

Mullin had just five points in 28 minutes in his first game as a opponent at Golden State.

"It's got to be tough on him," said Pacers coach Larry Bird. ``After spending his whole career here, it had to be tough on him to come back and play this game. We all wanted to do real well. At least we got the win for him."

Mullin's pregame introduction was greeted with a long standing ovation and a video presentation showing highlights of his Warriors career. He still ranks first in games played and steals, and fourth in points and assists, on the Warriors' career lists.

"It was probably more than I anticipated because you always try to block it out," Mullin said. "It was nice, it was really, really touching and I appreciated it."

Jim Jackson scored 23 points for Golden State. Jason Caffey matched his season highs with 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Warriors.

Warriors coach P.J. Carlesimo said his team built momentum heading into the fourth quarter with its aggressive play, and then let it all slip away.

"Four of the first six possessions we turned the ball over to start the fourth, and we just didn't get stops," Carlesimo said. "Rik Smits, particularly in the fourth quarter, killed us late."

Davis scored 11 points and the Pacers hit 55 percent of their shots while taking a 49-42 halftime lead. Mark Jackson had eight assists in the first half. Jim Jackson had 10 points in the first half for the Warriors, who had 15 offensive rebounds by halftime but only five points off those rebounds.

The Pacers extended their lead to 58-46 early in the third quarter. The Warriors responded with a 13-4 run, including seven points by Caffey, to pull within three.

After brief flurry by the Pacers that included five straight points by Miller, the Warriors took their first lead since early in the game on a pair of free throws by Caffey with 23 seconds left in the third period.

Indiana went into the fourth quarter leading 71-70, and opened the period with a 12-0 run that concluded with eight consecutive points by Hoiberg. The reserve guard hit a 3-pointer, converted a steal into a three-point play and then scored on a layup to make it 83-70.

The Warriors never got closer than six points the rest of the game.

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