MILWAUKEE -- When Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel benched his starters for the entire game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night, it meant extended playing time for the teams reserves. Chris Copeland made sure to take advantage. Copeland scored a season-high 18 points and made a difficult driving layup with 1.2 seconds remaining, giving the Pacers a hard-fought 104-102 that moved them back into first place in the Eastern Conference. "Its big for our confidence, the second unit," said Copeland, who came in averaging three points. "Just to get the opportunity out there. A lot of us have been waiting for that all year. So it was very cool for us to get out there and get a win and show the starters that weve got their backs when they need rest." Copeland also tied a career high with four 3-pointers and matched a season high with 17 minutes of playing time. Following a pair of timeouts, the Pacers inbounded the ball to Copeland, who drove hard to the basket for the winning shot. "I tried to rip through to the basket and tried to use my size," Copeland said. "I saw help coming, so I shot it." Copelands shot came after Milwaukees Khris Middleton had tied the game at 102 after making three free throws. Middleton drew a foul while attempting a shot near the 3-point arc with 4.9 seconds remaining that referees initially ruled a 2-point attempt. After a review, the call was reversed, sending Middleton to the line for three shots. Luis Scola also recorded a season high with 24 points and Evan Turner added 23 for Indiana. Vogel made the unusual move to keep all of his regular first-team players on the bench after saying his team appeared tired following a 107-88 home loss to Atlanta on Sunday, when the Pacers were held to a franchise-low 23 points in the first half. "It was a great win for our guys, a great team effort," Vogel said. "We had a lot of good contributors." Even without the starters, Indiana moved a half-game ahead of the Heat heading into Fridays matchup in Miami. After leading the East most of the season, the Pacers had lost five of six games coming into the matchup with the Bucks. Still, the Pacers came in just a half-game behind Miami, which lost at Memphis. The Bucks, who had only eight players available due to injuries, have lost six in a row and were on the losing end of all four games with the Pacers this season. Brandon Knight had 25 points and Ramon Sessions 20 for Milwaukee. Jeff Adrien pulled down a career-high 17 rebounds. The game featured 23 lead changes. Usual Indiana starters Paul George, David West, George Hill and Lance Stephenson dressed but didnt play. Another starter, Roy Hibbert, was inactive for the game. All five are expected to start against the Heat. Vogel insisted that the move would allow the starters to get some minor injuries healed and for his reserves to play extended minutes. The Pacers starting lineup consisted of Scola, Turner, Rasual Butler, Ian Mahinmi and Donald Sloan. The five had a combined scoring average of 21.7 points, equal to Georges per-game average. "It was great for us starting guys to sit out and get some rest as well as our bench rotation guys to get some rhythm going late into the season," George said. "Its tough to be a spectator. But I had to be a good teammate." Adrien wasnt pleased with the benching of the Pacers starters. "It was kind of like a smack in our face," he said. Sessions also was surprised to see Indianas entire starting lineup on the bench. "They are fighting for something so it was a little surprising to see those guys sit," he said. The Pacers built a nine-point lead in the fourth before the Bucks late rally. Indiana held a 53-50 lead at the half, paced by Scolas 16 points and 14 from Turner. Sessions and Knight each had 11 first-half points for the Bucks. The game was tied at 25 after the first quarter. Scola tallied 12 points in the period for Indiana. Notes: Indiana guard C.J. Watson returned after missing 13 consecutive games with a hamstring injury. ... Milwaukee centre Larry Sanders was activated and began serving his five-game suspension for failed drug tests. ... New Marquette University mens basketball coach Steve Wojciechowski attended the game. Ryne Sandberg Jersey . - The Clippers have signed guard Dahntay Jones to a second 10-day contract. Lee Smith Jersey . The above paragraph could be rewritten, verbatim, with Marcus Stromans name in place of Romeros. After both men had disastrous outings in Tuesdays 18-4 mauling at the hands of the Tigers, its clear that neither is the best option to begin the season in Toronto. https://www.cheapcubs.com/340t-kyle-ryan-jersey-cubs.html. Once again, the third baseman delivered in a big spot. Ramirez kept up his torrid hitting with a two-run homer to help back Wily Peraltas solid start, and the Brewers extended their winning streak to seven with a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night. Ron Santo Cubs Jersey . The weekend at Oriole Park has been less kind, with three players suffering varying degrees of injury. The worst ailment of the three, at least optically, is the deep bone bruise suffered by Adam Lind when he fouled a pitch off the top of his right foot in the sixth inning of Saturdays game. Robel Garcia Cubs Jersey . Numbers Game looks at the As getting Jon Lester from Boston, sending Yoenis Cespedes to the Red Sox along with a deal involving the As and the Minnesota Twins. The Athletics Get: LHP Jon Lester, LF Jonny Gomes, OF Sam Fuld and cash.JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Ace Sanders wont get to ease back into football.With rookie Marqise Lee (hamstring) ruled out against Pittsburgh and fellow receiver Cecil Shorts III (hamstring) doubtful to play Sunday, Sanders likely will see a heavy workload in his return from a four-game suspension.I dont know what to expect, Sanders said Wednesday. Im just going in, whatever they ask me to do, Ill do it. If it turns out, Ill be ready for it.Sanders missed the first quarter of the season for violating the NFLs substance-abuse policy. He practiced Wednesday for the first time since Aug. 26. It was his fourth time on the field with the Jaguars (0-4) since organized team activities ended in June.Sanders took a 31-day leave of absence in late July, missing all of training camp and most of the preseason. He returned Aug. 24, practiced for three days and played in the preseason finale against Atlanta.He has been in meetings since, but unable to practice or attend games with the team.It could be tough at times, but at the end of the day, its only yourself that you can blame for the reason you were out, said Sanders, who also was the teams primary punt returner in 2013. You couldnt harp on it too much. Just have to look at some of the positive stuff. You actually get a chance to sit down and be a spectator and actually take what you see watching the game and remember that stuff when you get back to play. Thats really what I did.Sanders announced July 22 that he was leaving the team and seeking treatment. The NFL suspended him the next day without pay. Sanders said personal issues caused his misstep and added that he was dealing with a lot of stuff, just wwith life and family and a lot of issues going on.ddddddddddddHe said Wednesday hes in a better place.Being back on the field made him feel even better.I think hes in a really good place right now, coach Gus Bradley said. I know these last couple of weeks were tough on him, but it went fast for him and now hes got a chance. I think hes truly just looking forward where hes at.A fourth-round draft pick in 2013 from South Carolina, Sanders caught 51 passes for 484 yards and a touchdown last season. He became one of 42 rookies over the last 20 years to catch at least 50 passes in their initial season.He was at his best down the stretch, with 35 receptions for 302 yards and a score in the final seven games. The Jaguars are hoping he can pick up where he left off.There will be some natural rust, offensive co-ordinator Jedd Fisch said. Not just the rust, but you have to feel the game a little bit. ... He missed four games and the preseason. This is his first game back. There will be some rust. Were going to have to look at that and see what we can do to help him get going early.Quarterback Blake Bortles, who will make his second start against the Steelers (2-2), hopes to develop a quick rapport with Sanders a€” especially with Lee out and Shorts likely to join him on the sideline Sunday.Having Ace back is a huge help and were excited for him, excited to have him back out there practicing, Bortles said. I look forward to seeing what he can do. ... From watching him run routes last year on film, he does a great job running routes, getting open, hes smart. I look forward to throwing him the football.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '