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Pacers try to give it away but Bucks won't take it

Feb 22, 2007 - 5:53 AM INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Michael Redd showed that he is all the way back but it still was not enough to end Milwaukee's recent slide.

Redd scored 38 points and the Bucks rallied twice to force overtime periods but they could not overcome the balanced Indiana Pacers, who posted a 136-129 victory in double overtime.

Redd returned Tuesday after missing 20 games with a strained patellar tendon in his left knee and scored 17 points in an 84-83 loss to Detroit.

All five Indiana starters scored in double figures and Marquis Daniels had a strong game off the bench as the Pacers handed the Bucks their sixth straight loss.

"It was a good win for us after the All-Star break," Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. "We came up with some key stops in the second overtime. It's always a battle when you play another team from the East and this was an important win for us."

Daniels opened the second overtime with a basket and Jamaal Tinsley added a 3-pointer to give the Pacers a 127-122 lead.

Daniels scored 22 points and Tinsley had 11 and 11 assists as both players put off-court distractions behind them - at least for a while.

Earlier Wednesday, a Marion County grand jury indicted Tinsley on a felony charge of intimidation and misdemeanor counts of battery, disorderly conduct and intimidation for his role in a February 6 fight at 8 Seconds Saloon.

Daniels was charged with battery and disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors.

"It's all about basketball," Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal said. "I think the media wants to talk about it more than we talk about it. It's a non-issue. We stand behind our teammates and, in this country, you are innocent until proven guilty. We stand behind those guys 110 percent and thats the way it's going to be.

"They have to handle their off-the-court (legal issues), just like I had to handle mine. People say what they want to say about me, but I won all three of my cases, so I highly recommend that people withhold their judgment."

O'Neal scored 29 points, Danny Granger had 26, Troy Murphy 19 and Mike Dunleavy 16 for the Pacers, who have won six straight games at Conseco Fieldhouse in the series.

"It feels great to be out there and take whatever they give me," Daniels said. "We were fortunate to come out with a victory."

Mo Williams scored 24 points and Charlie Bell had 21 for Milwaukee. Bell helped force the first overtime with a steal on an inbounds pass to Darrell Armstrong. Bell hit a 3-pointer from the corner to tie the game, 114-114.

Milwaukee trailed, 120-116, with 1:35 to play in the first overtime before Redd scored the Bucks' final six points, including a 3-pointer that made it 122-122 with 19 seconds remaining.

"It's frustrating to lose a tough one like this," Redd said. "We need to start stronger and we need to play aggressive."

"It was a huge (win)," O'Neal said. "Our team has been on a roller coaster of a ride the first half of the season and we were still able to end up in fifth place (in the East). We feel like we are settled now. We are actually using practice time to practice, not just to get guys used to the system. Everybody knows what's at stake here."