Indiana captured a first-ever Eastern Conference regular-season title and Miami sealed the second seed as the race for National Basketball Association playoff positions neared an end.
Jalen Rose scored 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter here to spark the Pacers past Detroit 112-101 Sunday. Indiana, 54-26, will have a home-court edge all the way to the NBA Finals in coach Larry Bird's farewell season.
"Clinching the number one seed in our division is a springboard to the playoffs," Rose said. "We certainly weren't the glamour pick before the year. Everyone talked about our six free agents and how Larry was leaving us, and how we didn't have a chance and we'd be lucky to finish fifth or sixth.
"It feels great to overcome that and finish first."
Reggie Miller scored 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting and Dutch center Rik Smits added 14 for the Pacers, who have never reached the NBA Final.
"This is great," Miller said. "Now we know that any deciding game is going to have to come to our place. We think we're the best team in the East and we hope it doesn't come to any games like that. But it feels a lot better to know if it does, they'll be in Indiana."
With older free agents and top young talent mixing for one last chance, the home-court edge is a source of pride, a key step toward the ultimate goal.
"It's even sweeter because everyone said we were too old and we were bums and we were has-beens and they should trade all our (butts) in November," said Miller. "To hear that all season and still finish first means a lot."
Despite losing to Indiana, the Pistons clinched a playoff spot when Orlando lost at Miami. Detroit decided to rest injured superstar forward Grant Hill, who had an MRI that revealed a bone bruise in his left ankle. The Pistons must still win one of their last two games to edge Orlando or Milwaukee for the seventh playoff seed and a first-round match with Miami rather than Indiana -- Michigan (AFP).
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
