Pacers Survive Iverson Scare

Jalen Rose's two most productive games in the NBA have come against a team coached by Larry Brown, the man who two years ago questioned the guard's ability to play in the league.

Rose, seldom used in the one season he played for Brown at Indiana, came off the bench to score a career playoff-high 27 points Monday night as the Pacers defeated Philadelphia 94-90 in the opening game of the best-of-7 Eastern Conference semifinal.

Less than a month ago, Rose had a career-high 28 points against Philadelphia, the team Brown has led back into the playoffs.

"As a player you always have satisfaction when your team wins and you play well," said Rose, who declined to discuss his relationship with Brown except to say the two haven't talked since Brown left the Pacers following the 1996-97 season.

"The things that we went through as a team, and I went through as a player when Larry was here, I can't dwell on it too much," Rose said. "I just have to go out and be the player that I am today. ... You've got to go out and get knocked down sometimes before you get lifted. Maybe that was my case."

Rose was 9 of 16 from the field and 9 of 10 from the free throw line.

"He just got in that early groove, hit a couple of shots and we couldn't stop him," said Allen Iverson, who led the 76ers with 35 points.

The Pacers shared the defensive assignment against Iverson, the league scoring champion, with Mark Jackson, Reggie Miller, Travis Best and Derrick McKey combining to hold him to 13 of 26 shooting.

"I don't think anybody can guard me, that's something every guy in this league should feel," Iverson said.

"I thought Allen was sensational. Allen did a fantastic job against a team that was prepared for him," Brown said.

The Pacers, who had lot the season series 2-1 to the 76ers, offset Iverson with balanced scoring.

Miller had 18 points, including three free throws down the stretch when the 76ers were reducing a 13-point deficit to two. Jackson scored 14 for the Pacers, including two free throws with 5.2 seconds left that sealed the victory.

Matt Geiger was the only other major offensive weapon for Philadelphia with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

"The Pacers did a great job tonight," Geiger said. "They stayed with their game plan. ... We can't let a guy come off their bench and get that many points. Jalen's a real tough matchup for us. He's big and quick."

It was the 11th consecutive home playoff victory for the Pacers.

The 76ers went more than three minutes without scoring as the Pacers went on a 7-0 run. Two free throws by Best, a layup by Rose and a 3-pointer by Sam Perkins gave Indiana its biggest lead, 81-68, with 8:16 to go.

Iverson ignited the fourth quarter with his team trailing 83-70 by hitting two free throws with 6:10 to play. He scored 12 points in the fourth quarter.

Philadelphia rallied to cut the deficit to 91-88. A technical foul was then called against Tyrone Hill of the 76ers for reaching out of bounds and deflecting an inbounds attempt.

Miller hit the technical free throw and after Eric Snow of the 76ers cut the deficit to 92-90, Jackson hit the final free throws.

The Pacers helped themselves by making 26 of 32 free throws, while Philadelphia was 15 of 23.

The first half was tight all the way with 17 lead changes and eight ties. Philadelphia's biggest lead in the opening half came when Iverson scored the game's first six points. Indiana's biggest lead of the half was four points, the last time when Miller hit a jumper at the buzzer to put the Pacers ahead 50-46.

Notes

• Aaron McKie did not dress for the 76ers because of a contusion in his right quad. He was injured in Game 3 in the opening round against Orlando.
• These teams are meeting in the playoffs for only the second time. The other was in 1991, the first time the Pacers were in the NBA playoffs and the last time the 76ers reached the postseason.
• Indiana's bench, a potent weapon all season in its drive to the Central Division title, outscored Philadelphia's reserves 42-17.
• Rose has averaged 18.5 points and shot 59 percent in four games against the 76ers this season.

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