PHILADELPHIA, April 21 -- Reggie Miller made up for a poor shooting performance by draining a game-winning 3-pointer with 2.9 seconds left Saturday as the Indiana Pacers completed an improbable comeback and stunned the top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers, 79-78, in Game One of their Eastern Conference first-round series.
The Pacers, who have eliminated the 76ers from the playoffs each of the last two years, looked lethargic in the first half as they shot 30 percent (15-of-51) and trailed, 52-36. Trailing by as many as 18 early in the third quarter, Indiana roared back with 76ers All-Star guard Allen Iverson on the bench with four fouls.
Travis Best, Jalen Rose, Jermaine O'Neal and Miller spearheaded the comeback as the Pacers chipped away at Philadelphia's cushion and took their first lead of the game at 73-72 on a bank shot by Best with 5:25 left in the fourth quarter. Iverson's jumper with 4:33 to play gave the 76ers a 74-73 advantage, but Miller answered with a clutch 3-pointer as the Pacers grabbed a 76-74 lead with 3:22 remaining.
Dikembe Mutombo, acquired at the trade deadline to help the 76ers win a championship, sank two free throws with two minutes to play to tie it. After a miss by Rose, Eric Snow made a spinning layup with 1:31 to play to put Philadelphia ahead, 78-76.
Indiana missed four shots, including three 3-pointers, on its next possession, but the 76ers were unable to pad their lead as Snow and Aaron McKie missed jumpers and O'Neal grabbed his 20th rebound with 11.7 seconds left. Miller, who has provided memorable performances in past playoff games against the New York Knicks, took a pass from Rose at the left wing and nailed the 3-pointer over the outstretched arm of Iverson to give the Pacers a one-point lead.
After a timeout the 76ers took the ball at halfcourt, but Iverson lost the ball with Miller guarding him as time expired.
Miller was just 5-of-21 from the field, but had 17 points, six rebounds and four assists. Rose added 17 points and six rebounds, Best contributed 16 points, including 12 in the second half, and O'Neal added 12 points.
Iverson, who led the league in scoring during the regular season, was 7-of-19 from the field and scored 16 points. McKie led Philadelphia with 18 points and Mutombo added 12 points and 22 rebounds.
Game Two is Tuesday at Philadelphia.