RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The Indiana Pacers finally settled on a
starting five, but went to the bench early Tuesday night against
the overmatched New Jersey Nets.
The Pacers beat the Nets, who were without scoring and assist
leader Stephon Marbury, 88-64.
Marbury, fifth in the league with a 25.8 scoring average and
14th in the league with a 6.5 assists per game, missed his first
game of the season with a sprained left ankle.
The 64 points was the fewest allowed by Indiana since it limited
Portland to 59 on Feb. 27, 1998.
New Jersey lost its eighth straight game.
"It was probably one of the worst I've seen as far as we
couldn't make any shots," said New Jersey coach Byron Scott, who
saw his team hit just 1-of-18 shots from the field in the fourth
quarter to finish at 27 percent for the game.
"It's a very different game without him," Scott said of
Marbury.
Scott said he didn't know how soon Marbury would return.
"I told them there is no need to play him now and have him get
worse," Scott said. "One game's not worth having him out the rest
of the season. He's a competitor and he wants to play. "We need
him the rest of the season. He has to get back healthy and play."
Jalen Rose and Reggie Miller shot Indiana into an early lead and
the Nets never recovered.
Rose scored 16 of his 21 points in the first half and Miller
scored all 16 of his points in the first two periods.
"It definitely was a confidence game for us," said Isiah
Thomas, who has settled on a starting unit of Rose, Miller, Travis
Best, Austin Croshere and Jermaine O'Neal after struggling with
combinations early in his rookie season as a coach.
"I see us as a team that, as we continue to grow and build,
we'll be one of the best teams in the league," Thomas said. "I
see tremendous potential for improvement."
The Nets went more than eight minutes without a field goal in
the second half and trailed by as many as 25 points.
Rose had 14 in the first quarter, giving Indiana a 31-18
advantage at the end of the period. The Nets never got within
single digits again and trailed by as many as 19 in the second
period.
"The first quarter effort was great and we took advantage of a
lot of mismatches that coach said we would have," Rose said.
Aaron Williams scored 15 points and reserve Stephen Jackson had
14 as the Nets lost in Indianapolis for the eighth-straight time _
a streak that dates back to a 102-100 overtime victory on Dec. 29,
1996.
Five Pacers finished in double figures. Best and O'Neal recorded
double-doubles. Best had 14 points and 10 assists, while O'Neal had
10 points and 10 rebounds. Reserve Al Harrington contributed 13
points.
Despite playing mainly against reserves in the fourth quarter,
the Nets didn't get their first field goal of the until only 4:44
remained.
"We had to take advantage of their mismatches. Stephon was out.
We had to make it hurt," Best said.
Game notes
Indiana shot 67 percent (12-of-18) in the first quarter,
compared to 36 percent by the Nets. ... The game was the only home
contest in seven games for Indiana, which completed a four-game
road trip on Sunday and plays at Charlotte on Wednesday and in
Boston on Friday. ... The double-double by O'Neal was his ninth of
the season and his fifth in six games. ... Rose has had 20 or more
points in three consecutive games and four times since he came off
the injured list seven games ago. ... Kendall Gill, playing with an
ailing knee, was 0-for-9 from the field for the Nets.
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NBA Scoreboard
New Jersey Clubhouse
Indiana Clubhouse
RECAPS
Indiana 88
New Jersey 64
Miami 100
Atlanta 92
Cleveland 71
Charlotte 66
Orlando 101
Boston 98
Minnesota 100
Chicago 90
Sacramento 81
San Antonio 75
Houston 109
Dallas 102
Utah 98
Toronto 84
Vancouver 91
Detroit 83
LA Lakers 96
Philadelphia 85
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