Avery Johnson was more than willing to share the credit for the injury-plagued San Antonio Spurs' second straight victory.
"This was a total team effort," said Johnson, who had a season-high 26 points in the Spurs' 102-98 victory over Indiana on Saturday night. "Guys set good screens, we shot the ball well and we played good defense."Normally, in this type of situation we have faded down the stretch. With only eight guys, we just haven't had the energy."
The victory was San Antonio's eighth in 36 games since star center David Robinson went down with a foot injury, and marked the first time since Jan. 3 that the Spurs have won two in a row.
The Spurs tied the game on Vinnie Del Negro's free throw with 1:23 left, then scored the next seven points to ice the victory.
"We allowed them to do what they wanted to do," said Pacers guard Mark Jackson, whose team lost its third straight to stay 51/2 games out of the eighth and last Eastern Conference playoff berth. "They played well, penetrated, shot well and were very assertive. That should be our game."
The San Antonio victory spoiled Dale Davis's 20-point, 18-rebound effort, his fourth double-double in six games. Rik Smits led the Pacers with a season-high 25 points and Reggie Miller added 21.
Johnson also had nine assists for San Antonio, while Del Negro added 22 points and Carl Herrerra 21.
"We're playing more aggressive right now and becoming a more physical basketball team," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "This is especially pleasing to do this against a good basketball team."
Besides Robinson, the Spurs played without Will Perdue (strained left hamstring) and Monty Williams (strained left groin).
San Antonio was outrebounded badly, 47-34, but hit 29 of 34 free throws.
"We just let them hang around and they got to us," Smits said. "This is a tough, tough loss."
The Pacers led 49-46 at the half, behind 13 points from Dale Davis. Smits and Miller both added 10. Johnson had 13 points in the half.
Herrerra scored 13 points in the third period as the Spurs erased the Pacers' lead and built up a six-point lead of their own at 74-68.
Bucks 90, Cavaliers 82
At Cleveland, Vin Baker had 25 points and 15 rebounds and the Milwaukee Bucks snapped an eight-game losing streak and got their first win in Cleveland in four years, beating the Cavaliers.
Glenn Robinson added 20 points as Milwaukee snapped a seven-game losing streak in Cleveland that dated to Nov. 5, 1993.
The Bucks and Cavaliers split an often bitter season series two games apiece. Tempers flared again in this game, and Milwaukee forward Armon Gilliam was ejected in the first minute of the second quarter for a flagrant foul on Bob Sura. As Sura drove for a layup, Gilliam hit him hard with a forearm and did not question the ejection.
The last time the teams played in Cleveland, a 94-86 victory by the Cavs in December, benches cleared but no punches were thrown following an altercation that also involved Sura.
Baker made 10 of 14 shots from the field, including a smooth turnaround jumper that turned into a three-point play and gave the Bucks an 84-74 advantage with 2:21 to play.
Terrell Brandon, who shot only 37 percent from the field in his previous seven games, made 11 of 21 shots for 25 points and 10 assists to lead Cleveland. Tyrone Hill scored 19.
Cleveland blew a 12-point second-quarter lead, then made only 5 of 12 shots from the field in the third period against Milwaukee's full-court, pressing defense. Sherman Douglas, who had 12 points, hit two jumpers and a 3-pointer as the Bucks took a 67-58 lead.
Robinson hit two acrobatic jumpers, and Baker followed with a fastbreak dunk to give the Bucks a 73-60 lead early in the fourth. Cleveland cut it to 76-74 on a 3-pointer by Brandon, but got no closer.
Cleveland did its imitation of the Showtime Lakers in the first quarter, getting two dunks and five layups among its first 11 baskets.
Brandon faked two defenders and hit a short jumper to give the Cavs a 31-19 lead early in the second.
From there, Milwaukee went on a 14-4 run, pulling within 35-33 on a driving layup by Robinson.