INDIANAPOLIS, April 21 (UPI) -- Jermaine O'Neal contributed 23 points and 20 rebounds, and Reggie Miller added 18 points Monday night for the Indiana Pacers who beat Boston, 89-77, to even their NBA Eastern Conference first-round series at one game apiece.
"Jermaine is our MVP," said Indiana Coach Isiah Thomas. "Without Jermaine this whole year, we would not have been the same team. Through the playoffs, this team will live and die with his play."
In Game One on Saturday, Paul Pierce scored 21 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Celtics to a 103-100 triumph. The All-Star forward set an NBA playoff record for free throws attempted without a miss (21), and went 11-of-11 in the final 12 minutes from the line.
Monday night, Pierce, who was suffering from a head cold, finished with 14 points and nine rebounds, was held scoreless in the fourth quarter and shot just 5-of-18 from the field and 3-of-5 from the line.
"I feel pretty exhausted right now, but Coach (Jim O'Brien) wanted me to play the whole game, and I just tried to answer the bell," Pierce said.
The Pacers never trailed.
After opening up a 26-8 lead 8:49 into the contest, they allowed the Celtics to pull within 33-24 after one quarter and 54-48 at the break.
Boston got within one point twice midway through the third quarter but never could get over the hump. After Antoine Walker made it 70-67 on a layup to begin the fourth quarter, Ron Artest countered with a scoop shot and O'Neal a pair of free throws to make it 74-67 with 10:02 to play, and Boston got no closer than five points thereafter.
"We dug ourselves a big hole and we couldn't dig ourselves out tonight," O'Brien said. "We didn't challenge shots at all, and we only play well when we do challenge shots. We didn't drive the basketball, so we also didn't get to the line as much. This became a problem when we got down by 18 points because it changed my substitution patterns. It's hard to take Pierce and (Antoine) Walker out of the game when you're down by that much."
Jamaal Tinsley contributed 15 points, including four three-pointers, and seven assists, and Artest 13 points for the Pacers, who shot just 43 percent (31-of-73), but limited the Celtics to 36 percent (28-of-78).
"Last year, Jamaal got hurt in the playoffs and that was rough for him," Thomas said. "But he's a guy we'll never count out. He's playing great this year, and he always finds a way to come through in the end."
Walker paced Boston with 19 points and reserve Walter McCarty added 16.
