Indiana pushes Boston to brink

Tinsley returns, helps Pacers take 3-2 series lead

? Jamaal Tinsley was back on the court for the first time in 2 1/2 months, making a return that helped the Indiana Pacers head home with a chance to eliminate the Celtics.

The point guard, out since Feb. 24 because of a foot injury, passed and defended like he never had been away to spark Indiana to a 90-85 victory and a 3-2 lead in their playoff series Tuesday night.

“The way he played tonight was really key for us,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “We needed, I think, the spiritual lift of having him out there.”

Now, the Pacers can finish off the best-of-seven series Thursday night on their own court.

A bruised left foot had kept Tinsley out of the last 29 regular-season games and the first four playoff games. He found out he would play a few hours before Tuesday’s game.

“He hurt us,” Boston coach Doc Rivers said. “He wasn’t trying to score. He just ran the team.”

Tinsley had six points, seven assists and five steals in 28 minutes and kept the Celtics from employing a press because of his ability to handle the ball better than his backup, Anthony Johnson. Tinsley was at his best when the Celtics threatened down the stretch after trailing by 15 with four minutes left in the third quarter.

A layup by Antoine Walker, returning from a one-game suspension for pushing referee Tom Washington in Game 3, had cut the lead to 77-75.

Then Tinsley assisted on Indiana’s next two baskets, a three-pointer by Reggie Miller and a jumper by Jermaine O’Neal. Stephen Jackson’s three-pointer gave the Pacers an 85-80 lead, and Tinsley kept the Celtics from coming back with two steals in the last two minutes.

Boston's Ricky Davis, front, tries to drive past Indiana defender Anthony Johnson in the first half. The Pacers took a 3-2 series lead with a 90-85 victory over the Celtics on Tuesday in Boston.

“It was a big test for me,” said Tinsley, who felt sore afterward. “I just wanted the ball in my hands down the stretch, knowing that there was a whole lot of pressure and I just wanted to make plays.”

The Celtics, especially Kansas University product Paul Pierce, forced up shots and stopped passing the ball.

“Both teams had focus. One team had better composure,” Rivers said.

The Pacers were led by O’Neal with 19 points and 10 rebounds and Jackson with 15 points. For Boston, Pierce scored 27 points but committed six turnovers, and Ricky Davis had 19 points.

Road teams have won three of the five games in the series, and the Celtics must win away from home to prolong their season.

“We worked so hard to get homecourt advantage the second half of the season,” said Walker, who finished with 10 points and seven rebounds. “I need to be a little bit more effective down low for this team to win.”

The Celtics also must be more careful. They had 22 turnovers that led to 27 of Indiana’s 90 points. And they allowed the Pacers to move the ball well, giving up 21 assists.

“The team that’s going to win this series is the team that’s going to hold defensively,” O’Neal said.