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Granger, Rush come up big late to cool Heat

Nov 3, 2007 - 4:45 AM INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Indiana Pacers rode the magic of Conseco Fieldhouse yet again.

Danny Granger scored 25 points and Kareem Rush used some clutch shooting to help the Pacers come back from a late deficit en route to a 87-85 victory over the Miami Heat on Friday.

After rookie Daequan Cook hit a long 3-pointer to put Miami ahead 82-75 with 4:05 remaining, the Pacers held the Heat scoreless until the final buzzer while Granger and Rush combined to score 10 points during a 12-3 game-ending run - sending Miami to its 11th consecutive loss at Conseco.

Granger followed a layup by Jeff Foster with one of his own with just over two minutes left to trim the Pacers' deficit to 82-79 before Rush nailed 3-pointers on consecutive trips down the floor to stake Indiana to a 85-82 lead.

"The gun is always loaded," Rush said. "If I'm open, I'm going to take the shot. I knew we needed threes when I came in, so I came in firing."

Granger added some insurance when he hit a 13-foot jumper with 40 seconds remaining to put the Pacers ahead, 87-82.

Granger's final shot was needed as Heat guard Ricky Davis grabbed the rebound from Rush's 3-point miss with four seconds left, dribbled up the court and made a desperation 3-pointer as time expired from just behind the half-court line.

"We're not going to win every game, but we're not going to stop playing," Granger said. "We're going to play our style until the buzzer. I would bet to say we're going to win more than we're going to lose."

Ike Diogu scored 16 points and Mike Dunleavy added 15 for the Pacers, who are off to a 2-0 start for the second time in three seasons.

Indiana forward Jermaine O'Neal, who sat out the opener with a hyperextended left knee, had 10 points, nine rebounds, a career-high seven assists and three blocks in 24 minutes.

"I'm not looking to score a lot," O'Neal said. "I'm looking to soften the defense up with the pass. I wanted to play a few more minutes because I wanted to get as many assists as possible. I feel like that changes the dynamics of the game."

Cook, who was making his Heat debut after not playing in the season opener on Thursday against the Detroit Pistons, scored 17 points to pace Miami.

"Coach (Pat Riley) has told me to be ready, my time could come at any time," Cook said. "Tonight was that night."