RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ Despite four consecutive victories, the Indiana Pacers are far from happy after clinching a second consecutive Central Division title.

In two straight games, Indiana has blown double-digit leads before recording the victory in the final minute.

``The only good thing that came from this tonight is that we won,'' center Rik Smits said after the Pacers edged Cleveland 95-94 Friday night. ``We are not playing championship and consistent basketball. ... There are a lot of questions to be answered and I don't have the answers.''

``We've got some tough games and if we don't play better than we did tonight, we won't win any,'' Indiana coach Larry Bird said.

``We gave up the middle too much. We didn't help out, we didn't get back and almost allowed them to do what they wanted to do,'' said Dale Davis.

The game came down to the final seconds with Lamond Murray losing control of the basketball as Cleveland was attempting to take the final shot.

Jalen Rose had 26 points, matched his career-high of 13 rebounds and came up with the crucial defensive play in the closing seconds.

Reggie Miller scored 15 for Indiana, including a free throw for the game's final point with 4.6 seconds remaining.

Rose and Murray had different thoughts on the final play.

``They tried to do a give-and-go with him throwing the ball into Shawn Kemp, and try to have him drive with his right hand toward the basket,'' Rose said. ``I tried to fight over the screen, which made him go closer to the wing as opposed to going close to the basket, and he lost the ball.''

Murray said the play ``was designed for me to come off, catch it and go hard to the basket. I just lost control of the ball.''

``He had two options, he could either go to the basket or pull up,'' Cleveland coach Randy Wittman said.

Kemp led Cleveland with 23 points and 13 rebounds. Murray had 20.

It was the 10th time in 13 games that Rose has scored 21 or more points. He had 17, 18 and 19 in the other three games. Rose, who was named the starting small forward as training camp began, has raised his scoring average to a career-best 18.2.

``I am doing the best I can with the starting role and the increased minutes,'' said Rose, who matched his career highs of 12 free throws made and 14 attempts.

Indiana took its biggest lead at 64-51 on two free throws by Rose and led 79-69 after three quarters. A 10-2 run brought Cleveland to within one at 88-87. The game was tied four times after that before Miller's winning free throw.

``We turned it up in the second half,'' Wittman said. ``Defensively we got after it pretty good. We were active ... I thought our pressure defensively was really good and allowed us to come down and get back into the game.''

The Pacers missed their first five shots of the final quarter when they shot only 25 percent (4-of-16) from the field. Cleveland led twice in the period, the last time when Bobby Sura's layup on a fast break put the Cavaliers ahead 92-90 with 1:59 to play. Miller's 21-foot jumper tied the score at 92 and Cleveland missed two opportunities to regain the lead.

The first came when Kemp tried to go around Davis underneath and had the shot blocked. After Miller missed a jumper, Brevin Knight overthrew Sura on a fast break.

Travis Best had 16 points, including a jumper that put Indiana ahead 94-92 with 38.4 seconds remaining. Knight's short jumper tied the game for the final time with 19.2 to play.

``In the fourth quarter, we couldn't make any plays. We played hard and we just weren't very effective,'' Bird said. ``Travis gave great effort and Jalen made all the big plays.''

The victory kept Indiana two games ahead of Miami in their fight for home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Notes: Indiana has sold out all 39 of its games at Conseco Fieldhouse, and the victory over the Cavaliers set a franchise mark for home victories with 34. ... The Cavs haven't won in Indiana since Feb. 12, 1997. ... The double-double by Rose was his second in as many games. He had only one in Indiana's first 73 games. ... Indiana is 36-5 when it holds an opponent below 100 points. ... Best has averaged 15.8 points in his last six games, scoring in double figures each time. ... For the third time this season, an Indiana opponent failed to make a 3-pointer.