Pacers' reserves topple lowly Bucks

Source:Agencies-Global Times Published: 2014-4-10 22:38:01

Evan Turner (front) of the Pacers shoots against the Bucks on Wednesday (US time). Photo: CFP



The Indiana Pacers defeated the lowly Milwaukee Bucks 104-102 despite coach Frank ­Vogel's decision to bench all of his ­starters for the entire NBA game on Wednesday (US time).

Chris Copeland's go-ahead basket with one second left gave the win to the struggling Pacers who had lost eight of their last 11 games.

Vogel announced during the Pacers' morning workout that he would sit his starting crew against the Bucks, who have the worst record in the league.

All-Stars Paul George and Roy Hibbert, guards George Hill and Lance Stephenson and power forward David West all skipped the game.

Bucks' Khris Middleton hit three ­consecutive free throws to tie the game 102-102 with five seconds left in the fourth quarter.

After a timeout, Copeland got the ball and drove the right side before tossing a floater up that dropped through for the game-winning basket.

"Just go. I thought about, as they say, 'Shoot over the chair,' but I had figured a step on a rip-through so I just tried to rip through to the basket and try using my size. I saw the help coming, so I shot the floater," Copeland said of the final play.

"We needed this game to get a little confidence and to feel better about ourselves and to get some rhythm back," Luis Scola said of the win.

The victory allowed the Pacers to move a half game ahead in the standings of the two-time defending league champions Miami Heat, who Indiana face Friday. With the regular season winding down, top spot in the ­Eastern Conference will be on the line in ­Miami on Friday.

Vogel started Evan Turner and Scola at the forward spots in place of George and West, with Ian ­Mahinmi filling in for Hibbert at center and Donald Sloan and Rasual Butler starting at guard.

Scola finished with 24 points and nine rebounds while Turner tallied 23 points and nine assists for Indiana.

The Bucks, who have lost six straight, set a franchise record in 2013-14 for most losses in a ­season.

Agencies - Global Times

Posted in: Basketball

blog comments powered by Disqus