"I was trying to be Don King because I geeked him up," Jackson said.

At the mall Saturday afternoon, Miller bought a t-shirt that isn't licensed by NBA Properties, at least not yet. But there he was during warmups, sporting the man of steel look.

"There's not too many things that can put a dent in Superman, and I was feeling Supermanish," Miller said. "I went to the mall, I walked by and saw it, and I had to have it."

On the court, greeted by shouts of "Reg-gie sucks, Reg-gie sucks," Miller lived up to the role, pouring in 34 points to help the Pacers take a 2-1 series lead with a 109-96 comeback victory at Milwaukee.

If the Bucks were ever going to turn the momentum of the series for good, this was the time to do it. Indiana played without starting center Rik Smits, suspended for one game after throwing an elbow in Game 2. And Bucks forward Glenn Robinson finally showed up for the playoffs, surpassing his point total in Games 1 and 2 in the first quarter. Milwaukee led by 12 midway through the third quarter.

The Bucks' fans were ready for this homecoming after the team's first playoff victory in 10 years in Game 2. About two hours before tipoff, on a live radio broadcast from a rally outside the Bradley Center, coach George Karl suggested that the fans pace their beer drinking for maximum effect inside the building, not outside.

When they weren't throwing things on the court, the fans put much of their energy into taunting Miller. Several times, starting before the game, they used the insulting chant. Miller was asked after the game whether it bothers him or inspires him.

"I love it," Miller said. "Why are you giving my trade secrets away? I want them to say that. I like that."

Let them taunt, Jackson said.

"He enjoys it," Jackson said. "He's simply a different creature, and he's shown it time and time again."

The Bucks led 71-59 with 7:10 left in the third quarter. After a time out, Miller answered with a three-pointer. From then until the end of the quarter, Miller had 16 points, helping the Pacers take a three-point lead into the fourth quarter.

"As a team, we were on the ropes," Jackson said. "We had every right to quit."

Reggie Miller holds Dale Davis back after Davis was ejected in the fourth quarter.(AP)

But the veteran Pacers are 19-0 this season against teams that defeated them in their previous meeting. That showed in the fourth quarter when Jalen Rose and Travis Best carried the scoring load as Miller lost his shooting touch. Rose had 10 points and Best 11 in the quarter.

"He told me he was tired near the end of the third quarter and it was my turn to make some shots," Rose said.

Miller has the NBA career record for three-pointers in the postseason and the ninth-best 3-point percentage. But he went cold in the fourth quarter, finishing 4-for-14 from 3-point range.

"I'm still a little upset at myself," Miller said. "I had so many wide open threes, I should have had 50 tonight."

For Game 4, Smits will return, and even if the Bucks win, they would have to win again in Indianapolis to take the series. Jackson had a book in his locker called "Maximize the Moment," something the Bucks failed to do Saturday.

So the message board in the Pacers' locker room carried a death wish -- for the Bucks.

"On Monday, they sleep!" it said. "R.I.P."

Soon after the locker room was opened to the media, someone erased the board. What was written might be the team's private sentiment. The public sentiment is that this is still a tough series.

"There's no need to jump for joy over one game," Miller said. "I'll jump for joy when we close them out."