Pacers

Moves Baseball BLUE JAYS -- Activated P Roy Halladay from 15-day DL. Optioned P Jesse Litsch to Double-A New Hampshire. DIAMONDBACKS -- Agreed to four-year contract with P Max Scherzer. INDIANS -- Recalled OF Franklin Gutierrez from Triple-A Buffalo. Optioned P Mike Koplove to Buffalo. PADRES -- Agreed to contract with P Jeremy McBryde. Claimed OF Hiram Bocachica off waivers from Athletics. Basketball BOBCATS -- Named Rod Higgins GM. GRIZZLIES -- Named Marc Iavaroni coach. PACERS -- Named Jim O'Brien coach.

NEW YORK -- After attempting just nine shots in the Indiana Pacers' Game 3 loss, Reggie Miller vowed to be more aggressive last night. But on a night on which Miller again looked ordinary, it was the play of two other struggling players that provided the offensive boost.Jalen Rose rebounded from a postseason scoring low of two points to contribute 19 off the bench, while starting small forward Chris Mullin added 18 as the Pacers defeated the New York Knicks, 90-78, to even the best-of-seven Eastern Conference final series at 2-2.In splitting the two games in New York, the Pacers regained the home-court advantage that the team lost in dropping the series opener at Market Square Arena.

It started Monday night in the third quarter at Madison Square Garden, and it didn't take long to pick up steam. As the New York Knicks were clinching their Eastern Conference semifinal series over the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA playoffs, the fans in the cheap seats were making their wishes known: "We want Reggie. We want Reggie "Asked about the chant by Indiana reporters the next day, Reggie Miller responded: "Sometimes you have to be careful what you ask for."That's kind of funny, because the previous day Miller said he wanted the Knicks, as his Indiana Pacers completed their second-round sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Throughout the more than six months of the NBA lockout, a time when Kenny Anderson contemplated selling his eighth car and Shawn Kemp got lumpy, the Indiana Pacers were diligently working out.For the most part, 10 players participated -- including most of the team's key components."

It took the anticipation of the playoffs for the Indiana Pacers to finally become interested in the NBA season.After sleepwalking for most of the regular season -- during which the Pacers had just one 20-point win for almost the first three months -- Indiana has had wins of 23, 22 and 22 points in its past five games.That includes blowouts over New York and Cleveland in the last two games of the regular season and a 22-point win over Milwaukee in the opener of their first-round playoff series.

INDIANAPOLIS -- One more.One more victory and the New York Knicks' improbable journey takes them to the NBA Finals.Bouncing up from the canvas after their seemingly devastating Game 4 loss 48 hours earlier, as well as an early 14-point deficit last night, the Knicks walked out of Market Square Arena with a stunning 101-94 Game 5 victory. That brings them home to Madison Square Garden for Game 6 tomorrow, ahead three games to two and with a chance to put away the Pacers.And who could have imagined that, after the 12-point licking they took in Game 4 and the blows they absorbed from Reggie Miller and Co. last night?

PHILADELPHIA -- They finished the regular season tied for the best record in the Eastern Conference, yet they were viewed as underachievers. That's because more was expected of an Indiana Pacers team that extended the Chicago Bulls to seven games in last year's Eastern Conference finals.Well, the Pacers last night moved one step closer to reaching the conference finals for the second year in the row with a 97-86 win over the Philadelphia 76ers before a sellout crowd at the First Union Center.

NEW YORK -- The NBA is considering rule changes next season that would limit contact away from the ball and quicken the pace of the game.A special committee headed by deputy commissioner Russ Granik and senior vice president of basketball operations Rod Thorn met for about six hours yesterday to discuss possible changes.The recommendations for change come after a season during which teams averaged 91.6 points, down about 10 points from four years ago. Commissioner David Stern and Granik said Monday that the league would consider rules changes to improve the quality of play.

NEW YORK -- After attempting just nine shots in the Indiana Pacers' Game 3 loss, Reggie Miller vowed to be more aggressive last night. But on a night in which Miller again looked ordinary, it was the play of two other struggling swingmen that provided the offensive boost.Jalen Rose rebounded from a postseason scoring low of two points to contribute 18 off the bench last night, while starting small forward Chris Mullin added 18 as the Pacers defeated the New York Knicks, 90-78, to even the best-of-seven Eastern Conference final series at 2-2.In splitting the two games in New York, the Pacers regained the home-court advantage that the team lost in dropping the series opener at Market Square Arena.

From New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing, there was disappointment. Indiana Pacers guard Reggie Miller said the news left him with an empty feeling. And Miami Heat coach Pat Riley spoke of not having that one last chance to defeat his No. 1 rival.All three were responding to the retirement last month of Michael Jordan, and the disappointment they felt of not being able to beat him on the road to a championship.On the surface, those responses seemed rather noble. But, deep down, those three -- as well as others in the league who expressed similar sentiments -- probably were bubbling with joy.They all knew that Jordan's departure meant the end of the Chicago Bulls' dynasty.

Jazz beats Pacers for 12th win in row nba Mehmet Okur scored 24 points and the Utah Jazz beat the host Indiana Pacers, 112-100, last night for its 12th straight victory. Paul Millsap finished with 22 points and nine rebounds, Ronnie Brewer scored 18 points and Deron Williams had 12 assists for the Jazz (41-23), which moved closer to the franchise record of 15 consecutive victories. Troy Murphy hit seven three-pointers and scored 23 for Indiana (28-38). Other results: : Tim Duncan had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and the host Spurs (43-20)

1 Eagles soaring: After being dumped by the Ravens, the Eagles beat two division winners (the Cardinals and Giants) to get back into the playoff race. They host the Browns tonight (8:30, ESPN). 2 UConn tuneup: The Connecticut men's basketball team should be able to clear the bench when it hosts Stony Brook (7 p.m., MASN). 3 Looking for wins: After firing their coach earlier in the season, the Wizards would like to see some victories, and there's no better time than tonight against the Pacers (7 p.m., Comcast SportsNet)

Montgomery gets 5 years in heroin case track and field Disgraced former Olympic track star Tim Montgomery, once dubbed "the world's fastest man," was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison for dealing heroin to an informant. "I was blind. I never had a job in my life," Montgomery told U.S. District Judge Jerome B. Friedman in Norfolk, Va. "I did the wrong thing." Montgomery, 33, will serve the five-year sentence after he completes a 46-month prison term for an unrelated conviction in New York.

The Washington Wizards' backups were more than enough to eliminate the very sub-.500 Indiana Pacers from the playoff race, 117-110, last night in Washington. Wizards coach Eddie Jordan went to his bench early and often, getting 31 points from Roger Mason, 14 from rookie Nick Young and little resistance from the Pacers' defense. The Wizards, who have won five of six, entered the game with a chance to gain home-court advantage in their coming first-round playoff series against Cleveland.

Mike Dunleavy scored 28 points and the host Indiana Pacers beat the Atlanta Hawks, 112-98, last night to avoid elimination from the Eastern Conference playoff race. A win by the Hawks would have knocked the Pacers from playoff contention. Instead, the Pacers are just two games behind the Hawks for the eighth spot. Joe Johnson led Atlanta with 30 points. Trail Blazers 112, Lakers 103 -- Brandon Roy had 23 points and 12 assists to lead host Portland to an upset of Los Angeles. Jazz 77, Hornets 66 -- Mehmet Okur's 22 points and 17 rebounds helped visiting Utah clinch the Northwest Division title.

Donnie Walsh was hired yesterday as president of the New York Knicks, and said he would wait a few days before deciding on Isiah Thomas' future with the organization. The Knicks hired the longtime Indiana Pacers executive and gave him complete power to oversee basketball operations of a team finishing its seventh straight losing season. "His mandate is clear -- do whatever is necessary to turn this team around," Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan said. New York hasn't won a playoff game under Thomas, its president since December 2003.

Martell Webster had 23 points, Travis Outlaw added 20 and the host Portland Trail Blazers overcame the loss of top scorer Brandon Roy to beat the Washington Wizards, 102-82, last night. Caron Butler had 19 to lead Washington, which was missing Gilbert Arenas after he had his return from knee surgery pushed back a week. Jarrett Jack added 17 points and Joel Przybilla had 17 rebounds for the Blazers, who shot 49.4 percent despite Roy leaving with a strained right groin on the last play of the first quarter.

Baseball GIANTS -- Announced retirement of player development director Jack Hiatt. Named Fred Stanley player development director. ORIOLES -- Fired pitching coach Leo Mazzone. Announced that P Rob Bell, P Victor Santos and C J.R. House have elected to become free agents. NATIONALS -- Sent IF Tony Batista and IF D'Angelo Jimenez outright to Triple-A Columbus. Basketball PACERS -- Exercised 2008-09 contract options on F Ike Diogu, F Danny Granger and F Shawne Williams. Colleges TOWSON -- Suspended football CB Eric Clark and LB Trent Covington indefinitely.

Moves Baseball BLUE JAYS -- Activated P Roy Halladay from 15-day DL. Optioned P Jesse Litsch to Double-A New Hampshire. DIAMONDBACKS -- Agreed to four-year contract with P Max Scherzer. INDIANS -- Recalled OF Franklin Gutierrez from Triple-A Buffalo. Optioned P Mike Koplove to Buffalo. PADRES -- Agreed to contract with P Jeremy McBryde. Claimed OF Hiram Bocachica off waivers from Athletics. Basketball BOBCATS -- Named Rod Higgins GM. GRIZZLIES -- Named Marc Iavaroni coach. PACERS -- Named Jim O'Brien coach.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Teams in the NBA often rebuild after losing seasons, renovating their rosters or their image and, in a few cases, both. The Indianapolis Pacers could be undergoing the biggest overhaul in the league this season, trying to win a few more games without losing any more fans. Beginning their 40th season this week, a team that won a franchise-record 61 games as recently as three years ago has seen its status as one of the league's elite dissolve and watched its reputation torn apart with two highly publicized incidents of antisocial behavior.