LOS ANGELES, 25 April 2004 — With a sense of urgency, and the game on the line, Houston Rockets’ Steve Francis went to work.
Francis scored 27 points, including two acrobatic layups down in the stretch, helping the Rockets hold off the visiting Los Angeles Lakers, 102-91 on Friday to pull within 2-1 in their Western Conference first-round series.
“It feels great but we don’t want to get to overconfident with one victory over a team like that,” said Francis who added nine rebounds and seven assists. “The Lakers are definitely the team to beat. They can turn it on at any time, and they’re going to be ready to play. That’s what we all have to prepare for.”
Cuttino Mobley scored 21 points while Yao Ming had 18 points and 10 rebounds for Houston, which will host Game 4 today.
“All we did is get back in the series,” said Rockets head coach Jeff Van Gundy.
In their first playoff home game in five years, the Rockets built a 13-point fourth-quarter cushion but the charging Lakers climbed within 90-86 on Kobe Bryant’s jumper with 2:09 to play.
Yao and Francis kept the Rockets from falling, however. The 7-foot-5 centre hit a short left-handed hook shot in the lane with 1:52 left over Shaquille O’Neal.
Francis then made a reverse layup while being fouled by Karl Malone with 67 seconds to go. He missed the free throw but came back on the next possession to bank in a layup with his back to the basket and was fouled again with 40 seconds left. This time, he made the foul shot, opening up a 95-86 advantage.
“Those are definitely two of the toughest shots I’ve taken in my career,” Francis admitted.
Mobley made two free throws and Francis added three more to wrap up the victory.
O’Neal had 25 points and 11 rebounds while Bryant scored 21 points but made just 7-of-20 field goals, to pace the Pacific Division champions Lakers.
Pacers 108 Celtics 85: Neither the partisan crowd, their storied history, nor the magical mascot leprechaun, could help Celtics from suffering their worst playoff home-court spanking in franchise history.
Al Harrington and Jonathan Bender each scored 19 points off the bench as the Pacers crushed the Celtics to grab a 3-0 chokehold in their Eastern Conference first-round series.
“I’m very encouraged by the way 12 guys focused in,” said Pacers veteran sharpshooter Reggie Miller, who added seven points. “We’ve been playing well all year on the road. Tonight was one of our better performances.”
The Pacers can sweep the best-of-seven series with another win at Boston today.
“We know the hardest thing is close out a playoff series whether you’re up 3-0 or whether you’re in a seventh game,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle explained. “It’s going to be important that we come out and get better at playing our game, so Boston doesn’t get on a plan and come out to Indiana for Game 5.”
Newly named Defensive Player of the Year Ron Artest returned from serving a one-game league-suspension with 15 points and Jermaine O’Neal chipped in with 14 for Indiana, which has dominated the three games by an average of 21 points. The Pacers entered Fleet Center with six straight losses but left with little doubt why they are the top-seeds in the conference.
“They gave us a good old fashion kicking, that’s how good they are,” Celtics coach John Carroll said. “That’s why they’re No. 1.”
Ricky Davis led the Celtics with 16 points but their top scorer Paul Pierce shot just 4-of-17 en route to a career-playoff low nine points in the blowout.
