Bucks rally to beat Pacers
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-13 17:15

Mo Williams hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer, rallying the Milwaukee Bucks to 103-102 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night.

Milwaukee Bucks' Mo Williams reacts after hitting the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer against the Indiana Pacers, Saturday, Nov. 12 2005, in Milwaukee. The Bucks won 103-102. [AP]

Michael Redd led the Bucks with 28 points, and Williams and T. J. Ford added 19 apiece.

Jermaine O'Neal tied his season high with 27 points for Indiana. Ron Artest added 24 points, Stephen Jackson 20 and Fred Jones had a season-high 17 for the Pacers, who which blew a 14-point lead late in the fourth quarter.

The Pacers missed 10 free throws down the stretch as the Bucks charged back from a 96-82 deficit.

Redd sparked the comeback with 12 points, including three free throws with 7.3 seconds left after being fouled by Anthony Johnson behind the 3-point line. Redd's free throws cut the Bucks' deficit to 101-100. Jones was fouled on Indiana's next possession and made one free throw to push the lead to 102-100 with 7 seconds left.

Williams dribbled up the court on the Bucks' final possession, hit a 29-foot shot for the win, and fell to the floor as his teammates mobbed him. The play was reviewed, but the ball clearly left Williams' hand before the buzzer.

The Bucks, coming off a loss to Golden State on Tuesday night that snapped their three-game winning streak, struggled on both ends of the court.

Except for two ties early in the first quarter, Indiana led from start until the Bucks finally found their shooting touch in the third quarter. Milwaukee had a 21-5 run, capped by two free throws from Ford, to tie the game at 61 with 3:39 left in the period.

Jones stopped the Bucks from getting any closer with a 3 and a three-point play on Indiana's next two possessions. Jones later hit a jumper that sent the Pacers into the fourth quarter with a 74-71 lead and the momentum.

Artest, who scored a season-high 30 points in Indiana's 102-90 victory over New Jersey on Friday night, opened the fourth with a dunk and then added a 3 and two free throws as the Pacers began to regain control.

O'Neal extended the Pacers' lead to 92-79 late in the fourth with seven points while the Bucks could only manage a free throw by Jamaal Magloire.

The Bucks pulled to 96-90 with an 8-0 run, capped by Redd's two free throws with 2:08 remaining. Artest and Johnson each missed two free throws in the final minute while Redd hit two free throws and Andrew Bogut hit a short jumper that pulled Milwaukee to within 98-94 with 31.7 seconds to go.

Artest made one free throw and Redd answered with a 3 to make it 99-97.

Notes:@ Artest, a six-year veteran, reached the 3,000th point plateau for the Pacers with his dunk to open the fourth quarter. ... G-F Jonathan Bender (left knee) missed his third straight game for Indiana. ... PG Jamaal Tinsley and C David Harrison (sore lower back) did not accompany the Pacers to Milwaukee. ... Bucks F Joe Smith, who missed most of the exhibition season and the first three regular-season games with a knee injury, played in his second consecutive game.