Ford lifts Pacers past 76ers

PHILADELPHIA(AP) The Indiana Pacers outlasted the Philadelphia 76ers in a game between two short-handed teams.T.J.
Ford hit a 15-foot jumper with 3.9 seconds left and finished with 25
points in the Pacers' 95-94 victory over the 76ers on Saturday night.The
Pacers (10-17) dressed just nine players. For the second straight game,
Indiana was without starters Troy Murphy, Marquis Daniels and Danny
Granger, out with viral infections. The Pacers also were missing Maceo
Baston (lower-back strain)."We're going to play hard no matter
what,'' Ford said. "We have confidence in each other. We've had
problems closing out games so this was a big win for us.''Said Pacers coach Jim O'Brien: "A great win for us. They're a very resilient group. I'm very proud of their effort.''Andre
Iguodala had 26 points for Philadelphia (12-15) in its first loss in
four games under new coach Tony DiLeo. Andre Miller had a triple-double
for the Sixers with 14 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds.The Sixers played for the second straight game without Elton Brand, out for a month because of a dislocated shoulder."It's
tough,'' Iguodala said. "We're short-handed, too, but it's a game we
should have had. It was one of our tougher losses this year and the
games you've got to get.''Miller's two free throws with 2:59
left gave Philadelphia an 88-83 lead. But the Pacers scored eight of
the next nine points, on Ford's free throws and Jeff Foster's
three-point play, to take a 91-89 lead with 1:30 left.After
Philadelphia's Samuel Dalembert made one of two free throws, Jarrett
Jack made a driving shot in the lane to give Indiana a 93-30 lead with
49 seconds left. Iguodala's layup with 41.1 seconds remaining pulled
Philadelphia to 93-92 with 41.1 seconds left and the Sixers went ahead
94-93 on Lou Williams' fast-break dunk after Jack's turnover on
Indiana's previous possession.Ford's jump shot gave Indiana back the lead."I
was looking for an isolation, a one-on-one; I wanted to get a shot
up,'' Ford said of his eventual game-winner. "If I missed, maybe we'd
get the rebound.''Iguodala missed a driving, left-handed shot as time expired that would've given Philadelphia the victory."I
think it was a heartfelt game by both teams,'' DiLeo said. "I think
both teams were tired from back-to-back games. I think when it was
coming down the stretch, we wanted it and that was the truth from the
last play."We got a good look and it just didn't fall for Andre.''Jack
finished with 12 points and a season-high eight assists for Indiana,
which got a season-high 12 points all in the first half from Travis
Diener, 11 from Brandon Rush and a career-high 10 from Josh McRoberts.Williams had 17 points, and Dalembert finished with 11 points and 14 rebounds for the Sixers.Notes:
Sixers guard Willie Green sprained his left ankle while guarding Jack
in the first half. X-rays were negative, but Green didn't return. ...
Miller's triple-double was the eighth of his career. ... The Sixers
will begin a string of six straight road games Tuesday night at Boston.