NBA PLAYOFFS Pacers react to Celtics' cheap shot in series opening test

Indiana beat Boston 104-88 after Brandon Hunter's incident.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- With all the big names in the Indiana-Boston playoff series, seldom-used Brandon Hunter might have had the biggest impact in Game 1. The Celtics' rookie forward appeared to take a cheap shot from Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal in the second quarter, igniting a rally by the Pacers that made the difference in their 104-88 victory over the Celtics in Game 1 of their first-round series Saturday.
Tangled with O'Neal
Hunter entered the game early in the second quarter and immediately tangled with O'Neal under the Pacers' basket, drawing a foul for pulling O'Neal to the floor.
"They had a young, strong player throwing an MVP candidate on the floor, and it looked like he was doing it intentionally," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "I reacted and our team reacted. I think that raised their level of angst a little bit."
O'Neal got up and yelled at Hunter and Ricky Davis, drawing a technical foul. The confrontation fueled a 24-7 Pacers run, and they never looked back.
"I think it was a factor," Carlisle said of the scuffle. "You don't like to see some guy coming in the game that looks like he was put in there to go rough up your best player. I don't think it's right. I disagree with that kind of basketball. It got all of us going."
Carlisle spoke to the media after Boston coach John Carroll, who was unavailable to respond to the remarks. Hunter left the locker room quickly and did not comment.
"He just grabbed me and threw me down," O'Neal said. "I've just got to do a better job keeping my composure. If they lose him, it's not make or break for Boston, but me getting thrown out would be a big loss."
Pulled away for keeps
Following the skirmish, the Pacers used their big run to take a 65-43 lead at halftime. And this time, they refused to let a big lead slip away.
Last year, Pierce scored 21 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter of Game 1, allowing the Celtics to overcome a 16-point deficit and win on their way to eliminating Indiana in six games.
Pierce scored 11 points in the first quarter, but Ron Artest didn't let him get free for the rest of the game. One of the favorites for defensive player of the year, Artest held Pierce to 1-for-10 shooting in the final three periods.
Leading the way
O'Neal had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and Artest also scored 24.
Pierce went 8-for-10 at the free throw line and finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Every time Pierce went to the bench, the Pacers went on a run.
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