The Indiana Pacers celebrated their one point difference against the Milwaukee Bucks in Indianapolis Thursday, defeating them 96-95 in Game 5 of their first round series.
Reggie Miller made certain that this was the highest-scoring playoff of his career, scoring 41 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter and Travis Best hit the biggest shot of the game, a 3-pointer with 16 seconds left.
This victory extended Larry Bird's coaching career, who was going to quit if the Pacers lost but now is to stay till the remainder of the season.
"I never thought about it," Bird said through the Associated Press. "The game was too good. It was a great playoff game. I was just trying to win."
The Pacers now move on to the second-round series against Philadelphia beginning Saturday.
Miller got into a shooting groove scoring 14 points in less than five minutes midway through the fourth quarter but the Bucks regained some lost points after Miller stopped shooting and decided to pass to open teammates.
Best took several of those shots and missed them all, but the Pacers can only be thankful he never lost the nerve to keep hoisting them up.
"I heard people in the stands yelling to pass the ball, but they're not the ones out there," Best said. "To be out there with Reggie the way he was playing, you just don't know when it will cave in. Even though I was missing, I always felt the next one would go in."
Miller surpassed his previous career playoff-high of 39 reached twice before - (Agencies)
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