NBA: Pacers survive Heat, even Eastern Conference Finals at 2-2

The Indiana Pacers saw their hot start dissipate, but resolute play allowed them to stay on track and tie the Eastern Conference Finals at two games apiece, via a 99-92 win, Tuesday (Wednesday, PHL time) at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The Heat needed overtime to survive the Pacers in game one, 103-102, only for Indiana to win on the road, 97-93 in the second game of the best-of-seven series. Miami then retaliated by taking game three, while in Indiana, 114-96, in a one-sided affair.

Behind seven early points from point guard George Hill, the Pacers stormed out of the gates to take an 11-0 lead. The Heat slowly began to reel themselves back in though, as they rode nine from LeBron James to get within four, 26-22, by the end of the first period.

The home team continued to play keep-away with the defending champions come the second. Six unanswered in the first half of the second quarter made it a nine-point affair, but persistent play from the Heat guards, Mario Chalmers, Dwyane Wade, and Ray Allen, got them to within a point, 46-45, with 37.3 seconds left.

Off a LeBron James foul, reserve Sam Young hit a pair of charities to push the Pacers' advantage back to three, 48-45, but James got back at him on the other end, nailing a lay-up with 0.4 seconds remaining in the first half to make it a one-point affair anew, 48-47 at the break.

In the third, the Heat got a taste of the lead, behind continued production from Mario Chalmers. The starting Miami point guard made it 51-50 off a banker, and then added a jumper minutes later off a Wade assists for a six-point Miami bubble, 60-54, 7:36 left.

The Pacers responded with 10 unanswered markers, to go up by 10, 64-60, 4:29 remaining in the penultimate quarter. Miami continued to press, despite Chris Bosh going down with an ankle injury at the 5:05 mark, and they were within one point anew following Wade charities, 71-70, a minute and change remaining.

Indiana however closed out strong, as Hill connected on a shot and the foul, for a two-possession buffer. Off a LeBron James offensive foul with just two ticks on the clock, the inbounds pass flew like a dart across the court to Lance Stephenson in the corner, and he nailed the catch-and-shoot trey for a 77-70 lead, one quarter left.

Following a jumper by James to start the fourth, the Pacers seemed primed for a run, as Ian Mahinmi and Roy Hibbert connected on back-to-back hits, 81-72. However, they were robbed of a tip-in after officials mistakenly whistled for a 24-second shot clock violation, despite the ball hitting the rim.

That gave way to an 11-2 explosion by the Heat, tying the game up at 83-all, 6:15 left. A Ray Allen put the Heat up by three, 89-86, but eight straight from the Pacers gave them a big 94-89 advantage, one that was quickly made more manageable by a trey from James, 94-92, 1:30 left.


On the other end, Lance Stephenson nailed a jumper off a Hill find, to keep the Pacers up by two possessions, 96-92. Indiana then got a huge boost when LeBron James committed an offensive foul, sending him to the bench after six whistles, under a minute to play.

The Pacers couldn't take advantage though, as a contested pass by Paul George was reviewed and ruled to be Miami ball. Wade however was called for a travel on the other end, forcing Miami to start fouling to stop the clock. All that did though was extend the inevitable, as Indiana then closed out the game by hitting 3-of-4 from the line.

Roy Hibbert led a Pacers starting five that saw each player score at least 12 points, posting a double-double of 23 points and 12 rebounds. Lance Stephenson shot 9-of-15 en route to 20 markers, George Hill added 19 points, five rebounds and six assists versus one turnover, while David West and Paul George scored 14 and 12, respectively.

LeBron James led the Heat with 24 points, six rebounds, five assists and three blocks, prior to fouling out. Mario Chalmers scored 20 big markers, Dwyane Wade chimed in with 16 points and six assists, and Ray Allen came off the bench for 11 points and seven boards.

Chris Bosh, who returned in the fourth period, finished with just seven points on 1-of-6 shooting.

Indiana outscored Miami 50-32 in points in the paint. They also shot 50 percent from the floor, while holding their foes to a 39 percent clip.

The Pacers also dominated the glass, 49-30, and had more assists, 18-15. - AMD/OMG, GMA News