| |
|
NBA PLAYOFFS -- Pacers finish off Magic, advance to 2nd round
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 09 May 2012
THE No.3 seeded Indiana Pacers became the first team in the Eastern Conference to earn a berth in the second round of the 2012 NBA playoffs when they knocked out the No.6 seeded Orlando Magic Tuesday night at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Indiana scored a 105-87 drubbing in Game 5 to clinch the best-of-7 series, 4-1. The milestone marked Indy's first playoffs series win since 2005. In it's heyday in 2000, the Pacers went all the way to the NBA Finals, losing to the LA Lakers of Shaq and Kobe.
The Magic didn't just surrender the series on a golden platter. Even without their star Dwight Howard, the Magic fought tooth and nail and took a precarious 71-69 lead heaidng into the fourth quarter. But the Pacers refuse to be denied, dropping 36 points in the final 12 minutes to seal the deal.
"I'm just so happy for our fans. They've endured a lot those years when we struggled. To finally see us come back and have a winning team again and somebody that has a chance to do something this year. That's what they deserve. Pacers basketball is back," Pacers coach Frank Vogel told the Associated Press.
The Pacers will next play the winner of the showdown between No. 2 Miami and No.7 New York. The Heat lead that series 3-1 with a chance to eliminate the Knicks in Game 5 Wednesday night at the American Airlines Arena in Miami.
Danny Granger led Indy with 25 points on 4-of-9 shooting from 3-point range. Darren Collison was prolific at the point, scoring 19 and dishing 6 assists. George Hill added 15 points and 8 rebounds for Indiana which shot 43-of-82 field goals including 9-of-17 threes.
Diminutive point guard Jameer Nelson led the Magic with 27 points. The 5-foot-11 spitfire also had five assists, four rebounds and two steals. Glen Davis and Ryan Anderson combined for 29 points for Orlando which converted only 32 of 76 field goals and 11 of 30 threes. (Homer D. Sayson)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Round 12: Without Promoters there is no Boxing
By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 25 Mar 2026Mexican female IBF Champion Irma Garcia to defend on April 5 in England
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 25 Mar 202614-0 super middleweight prospect Tommy ‘The Governor’ Hyde to headline April 18th at home in Cork, Ireland
, Wed, 25 Mar 2026MMA legend Jon Jones joins IBA Bare Knuckle as global ambassador
, Wed, 25 Mar 2026GOLDEN BOY SIGNS NEW EXCLUSIVE MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP EXTENSION WITH DAZN
, Wed, 25 Mar 2026“The Takeover” Teofimo Lopez Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
, Wed, 25 Mar 2026Boxlab Promotions Fighters Shine with Statement Victories in Orlando
, Tue, 24 Mar 2026Red Owl Boxing Presents Box Fest XVII on Friday, April 3rd at The Archer Music Hall in Allentown, PA and LIVE on DAZN
, Tue, 24 Mar 2026Boxing world fans waiting Isis Sio prompty recovery; Team Isis Sio statement
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 24 Mar 2026National Master Nika Juris Nicolas rules National Youth & Schools Chess Championships
, Tue, 24 Mar 2026SD FIGHT NIGHT: FAMILY BUSINESS DOUBLE MAIN EVENTS SET AS JULIUS “JUJU” BALLO SQAURES OFF AGAINST ROMAN REYES AT FRONTWAVE ARENA ON SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2026
, Mon, 23 Mar 2026"I'M A MAN OF MY WORD": GEORGE LIDDARD COMPLETES MATCHROOM BRENTWOOD HALF MARATHON FOR CHARITY – HOURS AFTER DENNY WIN
, Mon, 23 Mar 2026Lester Martinez Wins WBC Interim World Super Middleweight Championship with Unanimous Decision over Immanuwel Aleem
, Sun, 22 Mar 2026IBF Pan Pacific champion Vince Paras set to face unbeaten OPBF champion Aoi Yokoyama in Kyrgyzstan
, Sun, 22 Mar 2026King James sets NBA all-time record for most games played
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 22 Mar 2026Loaded boxing schedule
By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 22 Mar 2026WEIGHTS, IMAGES, RUNNING ORDER AND THE LAST WORDS AHEAD OF ADAMES VS. WILLIAMS IN ORLANDO
, Sat, 21 Mar 2026COPPER BOX ARENA FIGHT NIGHT: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS LIDDARD AND DENNY FACE-OFF FOR FINAL TIME
, Sat, 21 Mar 2026Weights From ‘Martinez vs. Aleem’ Event from the NOS Event Center in San Bernardino and Broadcast live on ProBoxTV
, Sat, 21 Mar 2026Jordan Orozco Training Camp Notes
, Sat, 21 Mar 2026Towns vs. Bordin for PAT Belt; De Barbo, Nancholas, Samiei in Supporting Bouts at Brico Santig's Exciting Show in Pattaya Beach, Thailand
By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026YOENIS TELLEZ TRAINING CAMP QUOTES
, Fri, 20 Mar 2026Lebron James ties the most game played in NBA history
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026Pichay supports GM Antonio's Australian chess circuit campaign
By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026LIDDARD-DENNY PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES IN FULL: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AHEAD OF SATURDAY'S COPPER BOX FIGHT NIGHT
, Fri, 20 Mar 2026 |
|
|
|
|
|
