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Tinsley layup lifts Pacers over Spurs

Apr 2, 2007 - 3:58 AM INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Indiana Pacers are showing signs of life after a rough month of March.

Jamaal Tinsley hit a layup with 1.1 seconds to play to lift the Pacers to a 100-99 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

Tinsley scored 12 of his 20 points in the final quarter, dished out eight assists and grabbed four steals for Indiana, which snapped a four-game losing streak and pulled to within 1 1/2 games of Orlando (34-40) for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

"When one of your real big guns is out, you've got to step it up," forward Ike Diogu said. "The thing is, nobody here wants to be on a Pacer team (that doesn't) make the playoffs. We just went out there and played team ball tonight."

San Antonio held a 95-88 advantage with 3:49 remaining, but Tinsley scored seven points in the final 2:38 and the Spurs missed 4-of-7 free throw attempts down the stretch to leave the door open.

"It was a badly executed game," Spurs forward Tim Duncan said. "They were allowed to be very physical and got away with a lot and they used it to their advantage. It came down to the fourth quarter and they were still in it, and they hit some big shots. We just missed some opportunities."

After Manu Ginobili split two from the line with 6.3 seconds remaining to give the Spurs a 99-98 lead, Tinsley drove past Duncan down the right lane for the winning score.

"That play was for me to make something happen," Tinsley said. "I was just trying to get to the basket. The ball just happened to go in."

Mike Dunleavy scored 21 points and Troy Murphy added 20, including a 3-pointer with 1:26 remaining, that tied the score at 98-98. Diogu had 12 of his 16 points in the third quarter for the Pacers, who lost 14 of 16 games in March.

"You always have to stay ready," Diogu said. "That's my duty as a professional. My number may not be called every night, but when they do call it, they not what they are going to get. You give me some time and I'm going to give you some production."

Tony Parker scored 22 points and Duncan added 17 and 11 rebounds for San Antonio, which had a six-game winning streak snapped.

"I thought it was a pathetic performance from a team getting ready to go into the playoffs," Spurs coach Greg Popovich said. "That was very disappointing, because we only played the fourth quarter competitively. Before that, I thought we played embarrassing basketball. Very dissapointing loss. A pathetic, pathetic performance."

Indiana center Jermaine O'Neal missed the game with a sore left knee.

"Every loss hurts," Ginobili said. "Especially down the stretch, when we're trying to catch the Suns. We missed too many shots and didn't execute down the stretch. And that kept them alive. We had too many mistakes to have a win."