AUBURN HILLS, Michigan, 30 May 2004 — Ron Artest scored 20 points and surprise starter Austin Croshere added 14 to spark Indiana Pacers past Detroit Pistons 83-68 here Friday and level their National Basketball Association semifinal series.
The Pacers, who had the NBA’s best regular-season record, matched Detroit at 2-2 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals, which continue today at Indianapolis before returning here Tuesday for Game Six.
“I wasn’t even thinking about the score. I just had to get the job done,” Artest said. “When I get the ball I feel I can score no matter who is guarding me. I got the ball in some good spots and just tried to make something happen.”
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle started Croshere for the first time all season, replacing center Jeff Foster for more of a perimeter threat against a Pistons club that led the NBA in defense and jammed the basket to make shooting tough.
“It was an opportunity to change the geometry of the game a little bit,” Carlisle said. “It was a little bit of a gamble. Austin changes the game. I just thought it was a gamble worth taking. It’s certainly not a cure all.
“Not that it was a gimmicky super weapon but it helps if you don’t tell anybody. Will we stay with that? You never know with me.”
When Detroit stretched the defense, Indiana took advantage. The Pacers made 32-of-70 shots, a series-best 46 percent after connecting on only 32 percent through the first three games.
“If I look at this game, I’ll stick my head in the sand,” Pistons coach Larry Brown said. “We can’t play any worse than tonight. We couldn’t guard anybody out front and that opened it up for everybody on their ball club.” Croshere’s period-closing 3-pointer game Indiana a 49-39 half-time lead and he sank two more early in the third period to build the Pacers’ edge to 57-41.
“We weren’t ready to play,” Brown said. “I really thought we could get some spirit going, some energy, jump on them in the third quarter, we could have a chance in the fourth, But we came out with no energy.
“Even when we cut it to 11, it was Fool’s Gold. We defended a little better, but we didn’t move the ball.”
Indiana’s Jermaine O’Neal played 38 minutes despite a sprained right knee, pulling down 13 rebounds as the Pacers avoided falling into a 3-2 hole against the Pistons.
“It’s pretty sore,” O’Neal said. “It feels a lot better because we won.”
Artest grabbed 10 rebounds and Reggie Miller added 15 points for the Pacers, whose title hopes gained new life once O’Neal returned from a locker room exam.
“When your go-to guy goes down, everyone takes a collective gasp,” Miller said. “He added another notch to his ever-coming legend in Indiana by playing hurt. That’s what separates the good from the great players.”
