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Over a span of almost eight minutes, the Indiana Pacers managed just one point. In a sequence of 19 shots, they missed 18.

The Pacers' poor shooting put them in a big early hole, and a brief third-quarter comeback was all they could manage the rest of the way as Chauncey Billups scored 29 points to lead the Detroit Pistons past the Pacers 89-76 Sunday, tying their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series 2-2.

Game 5 is at Detroit on Tuesday night.

"This has turned into a great series. But the pressure is always going to be on us; we're the [defending] champs," Billups said.

Just as they did Friday night when they blew an 18-point lead, the Pacers went cold from the field -- and this time it cost them the game.

Detroit had a 19-1 first-quarter run and led by 17 in the first half, then took a 20-point lead late in the third period after Indiana had pulled within six. In the final quarter, the Pistons were never threatened.

"It was a tough little stretch when they got back in the game. We knew they would make a run," Billups said. "But I wanted to combat that by being extra aggressive. I kind of took it on myself, and they followed me."

Indiana's collapse came early, with a free throw by Jamaal Tinsley the Pacers' only point in a stretch of almost eight minutes. After that, Billups scored nine points as Detroit quickly built its lead to 17.

Rasheed Wallace had 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Richard Hamilton added 13 points and seven assists for the Pistons.

"It was answering the bell. We couldn't afford to go down 3-1 to this team," said Wallace, who guaranteed a victory after the Game 3 loss on Friday.

"I couldn't get a shot to save my life the last game," he said. "Coming into tonight, I don't think there was no pressure on us. We just had to go out and play and execute."

Stephen Jackson led Indiana with 23 points and Tinsley had 17. Jermaine O'Neal, continuing a playoff shooting slump, shot 4-of-15 from the field and finished with 10 points.

Mavericks 119, SUNS 109

The Dallas Mavericks did exactly what they wanted to do defensively, even while watching Steve Nash score 48 points.

While the league MVP and their former teammate scored almost at will, the Mavericks were finally able to neutralize Amare Stoudemire and the rest of the Phoenix starters.

"We felt that if we could allow [Nash] to score and not have all those other guys become involved in the offense, it would give us a better chance to win the game," Jerry Stackhouse said.

The plan worked and the Mavericks won 119-109 in Game 4 on Sunday night, evening the Western Conference semifinal series 2-2.

Game 5 is Wednesday night in Phoenix.

Nash had a playoff career high in points, and the most by anyone this postseason. He took advantage of openings created by the Dallas strategy to double- and triple-team Stoudemire.

Nash had just five assists, along with nine turnovers -- which like his points was the most ever by an opposing player against the Mavs in the playoffs.

Dirk Nowitzki finally snapped out of his postseason shooting slump, scoring 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting. And Josh Howard did more than chip in with 29 points and 10 rebounds.

Howard kept going to the basket, scoring on layups, drawing fouls and grabbing offensive rebounds. He finished with 10 rebounds -- six of them on the offensive end.

"He's our energizer," Nowitzki said. "He was all over the place."

SuperSonics 101, Spurs 89

Luke Ridnour skittered everywhere, dribbling around defenders and flipping in jumpers and runners. He showed no fear against Tim Duncan, bumping the big man on his way for layups.

It was a coming-out party Sunday for Seattle's second-year point guard, who had 15 of his 20 points in the third quarter to lead Seattle SuperSonics to a 101-89 win over San Antonio, tying the series 2-2.

"That was great to see. He knows what he's capable of doing now," said Ray Allen, who scored 32 points.

Ridnour's points were a playoff career high, and he also had six assists. He shot 7-for-7 as the Sonics -- winning decisively without injured All-Star Rashard Lewis -- broke things open with a 36-point third period.

Ridnour finally had a breakout game after being overshadowed by Sacramento's Mike Bibby in the first round and embarrassed early in this series by San Antonio's Tony Parker, who scored 29 in Game 1 of the second round.

"I came off a lot of pick-and-rolls. I got some transition buckets," Ridnour said. "That's how I get going. We have guys who know how to make plays, myself included. Tonight it was just there."

Lewis was unable to run because of a sprained toe on his left foot. He was hurt in Game 3 and, after missing two days of practice, watched in street clothes on the bench.

The Sonics, who shocked nearly everyone by winning 52 games and the Northwest Division title, seemed inspired without him.

Now, they've made it into a best-of-three series. Game 5 is Tuesday night in Texas.

Antonio Daniels scored 19, while reserve forward Damien Wilkins had 15 points, six rebounds and five steals. After the horn, Reggie Evans held Lewis' No. 7 jersey aloft for a celebration at midcourt.
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