Teams look for an edge with series lead on line

The Pacers will be playing with two starters hobbled by injuries.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The pressure is mounting with the Eastern Conference finals series between Indiana and Detroit tied at two games each.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle insists the heat is on Detroit because the Pistons made two moves -- firing Carlisle for new coach Larry Brown and trading for Rasheed Wallace -- in an effort to get to the NBA Finals.
"Right now, I don't feel like the pressure is on us at all," Carlisle said after practice on Saturday. "Their season rides on them making it to the next step. That's not a secret out there."
Reversal
Brown, meanwhile, is sure the Pacers have everything to lose after winning an NBA-best 61 games during the regular season.
"We're playing the team with the best record in the league, and we're supposed to win?" Brown said. "We would have home court if that was the case."
Thanks to Indiana's convincing 83-68 win in Detroit on Friday, the Pacers again have homecourt advantage, but they will be playing with two starters hobbled by injuries.
All-Star Jermaine O'Neal and point guard Jamaal Tinsley were injured in Game 4 but expect to play in Game 5 in Indianapolis today.
O'Neal sprained his left knee in the first quarter when he landed awkwardly after jumping for a rebound with Detroit's Ben Wallace.
He twice went to the locker room for treatment during the game and still managed to score 12 points, grab 13 rebounds and block four shots.
"It feels pretty good," said O'Neal, who has had treatment and medication to help keep the swelling down. "It's not even an issue."
Playing in pain
Tinsley is a bigger question mark. He has been slowed by knee, ankle and hamstring injuries to his left leg nearly the entire series and sat out the fourth quarter of Game 4. He said afterward that his "left leg is gone," but he planned to play in Game 5.
Anthony Johnson played well in Tinsley's absence, finishing with six points, two assists and just one turnover in 26 minutes.
If Tinsley is limited in Game 5, a rusty Kenny Anderson will have to fill the void.
Anderson has played sparingly since losing his starting spot to Tinsley in December, and openly lobbied for more playing time before Game 4.
He apologized on Saturday for his public comments.
"Two days ago, I was venting, frustrated," Anderson said. "I want to apologize personally to my teammates and coach Carlisle. ... I just have to swallow the pill, deal with my situation and be there for my team."
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