Posted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 7:10 am Post subject: Pacers Rough Up Depleted Sixers
INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 28 (Ticker) -- Minus Allen Iverson and Glenn Robinson, the Philadelphia 76ers had problems keeping up with the Indiana Pacers.
Jermaine O'Neal collected 23 points and eight rebounds and Al Harrington added 21 and nine as the Pacers defeated the undermanned 76ers, 81-74, for their seventh victory in nine games.
Iverson (bruised right shoulder) and Robinson (strained right elbow) did not make the trip for Philadelphia, which slipped to 0-3 against the Pacers this season.
The Sixers trailed, 47-41, in the third quarter before the Pacers embarked on a 9-0 run. Harrington, who had 11 points in the period, capped the burst with a layup that made it 56-41 with 2:32 left, and Indiana took a 61-47 cushion into the fourth.
Kenny Thomas, who missed the Sixers' loss at Atlanta on Tuesday with a sprained right thumb, had 20 points and 11 rebounds and Samuel Dalembert added 15 and 13 for Philadelphia, which failed to move one game behind Miami for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff berth.
