Miami (2-2) at Indiana (2-1), 8:00 pm EST
INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The calendar reads early November,
but the Indiana Pacers already are keeping an eye on the overall
playoff picture.
The Pacers look to continue their recent dominance over the
Miami Heat when the teams meet Wednesday for the second time
this season.
After posting a 105-102 triumph over Miami on Thursday, Indiana
can clinch the season series with a win, which would give the
Pacers the tiebreaker advantage for playoff positioning.
Jermaine O'Neal scored 23 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, Jamaal
Tinsley added 21 points and Stephen Jackson 20 for the Pacers,
whose rally from a 20-point deficit fell short in Saturday's
111-109 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Dwyane Wade made 1-of-2 free throws with 5.2 seconds remaining
and finished with 23 points for Miami, who held off a late surge
by the New Jersey Nets in a 90-89 victory on Monday.
For the second straight season, Wade has scored 20 points in
each of his first four games, joining teammate Alonzo Mourning
(1996-97) as the only players in franchise history to accomplish
the feat.
The Heat have split their first two games since superstar
Shaquille O'Neal sprained his right ankle against the Pacers on
Thursday. O'Neal scored 18 points prior to landing awkwardly on
Ron Artest's foot.
The Pacers have won 13 of the last 14 meetings against the Heat,
including three overtime victories last season.





