90
102
Monday, May 26 at 8:30 PM ET at American Airlines Arena
Game Rewind: Pacers 90, Heat 102, Game 4
Scott Agness | May 26, 2014
Game Rewind
The Pacers sought to leave Miami with a win and to make it a best-of-three series. The Miami Heat had different intentions, and came out with tremendous energy from the tip on both ends. They led from the outset, by as many as 23 points and rolled to a 102-90 victory Monday night at American Airlines Arena.
Behind 32 points from four-time NBA MVP LeBron James, the Heat have seized a 3-1 lead in the series that moves back to Indianapolis for Game 5 on Wednesday.
Unlike the first three meetings of the series, the Heat, who trailed by at least eight points in the first quarter of each game, took an early double-digit lead. Heat center Chris Bosh scored the game’s first eight points after managing exactly nine points in each of the first three games.
When the Pacers needed points, they went to David West. He accounted for eight of Indiana’s first 13 points. The Pacers shot it well in the first quarter, 53 percent, but they had five turnovers, while Miami had none.
The Heat led by eight after one, and the Pacers would have to play all but 44 seconds of the second quarter without the services of Lance Stephenson, who sat with three fouls. That meant heavier minutes for George Hill. He played all but 48 seconds in the first half and they needed his ball-handling skills as the Heat pressured full court, trapped aggressively and took away Indiana’s airspace.
The Pacers nearly went into the break down 10, but a jumper from West and a 3-pointer from Paul George trimmed it to a reasonable five-point deficit, 49-44. After playing from behind the entire half, Bosh going off for 17 points, and getting nothing offensively from Stephenson or Roy Hibbert, it was just a two-possession game.
The third quarter was the decisive one, as the Heat had their way. They shot 57 percent, made all 13 of their free throw attempts and outscored the Pacers by 11 points. James was exceptional in the period, scoring 14, including a one-handed flush to stretch their lead to 19. The Heat carried a 16-point cushion into the final frame.
Indiana didn’t give up without a fight. They used a 13-1 spurt midway through the fourth to slice it to 11, and later to nine with 89 seconds left, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit and the Heat won, 102-90. The victory was the 10th postseason home win in a row for the Heat.
For just the third time this season, the Pacers have dropped three straight games. Wednesday’s contest is now truly a must-win for the East’s No. 1 seed as a loss sends them home for the summer. The Heat, meanwhile, are trying to advance to the NBA Finals for the fourth consecutive season.
Inside the Numbers
Paul George made half his shots and finished with a team-high 23 points while guarding LeBron James on the other end. He did, however, turn the ball over five times. David West posted his third double-double of the postseason, 20 points and 12 rebounds. George Hill played all but four minutes, hit four threes and tallied 15 points. Luis Scola contributed 12 points (on 6-of-8 shooting) in less than 14 minutes, his fifth time in double figures this postseason.
Roy Hibbert battled foul trouble and was scoreless for the fourth time this postseason. He has failed to score in six of the last 21 times after doing so 11 times in 488 games.
James had a stellar night, finishing with 32 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. It’s the 74th playoff game that he has totaled 25+ points, 5+ rebounds, and 5+ assists, the most in history passing Michael Jordan (73). Chris Bosh scored 25 points, his highest total on the Pacers in 11 postseason games over the last two years. It was Bosh’s first time in eight games in double figures. Dwyane Wade added 15, seven scored at the foul line.
The Heat attempted twice the number of free throws (34) and outscored the Pacers at the line, 30-11.
Indiana held Miami to its lowest shooting percentage of the series, 46 percent, including 33 percent (8-for-24) from downtown.
The Pacers are 0-5 this postseason when giving up 100+ points.
Quoteworthy
“We let it get away with the Heat. I wasn't disappointed in the fight, I was disappointed in the result.” – Frank Vogel
“You got to give them credit. They won this game at the free throw line. They really just were able to get to the line more than we were, but I thought we outplayed them tonight.” – Paul George
“I thought we did a good job of just being aggressive. … We did a good job of getting in the paint, trying to make the defense collapse, and we were able to benefit from that.” – Dwyane Wade on the free throw discrepancy
Stat of the Game
The Pacers’ 14 turnovers led to 20 points for the Heat.
Noteworthy
- The Heat have won six straight at home over the Pacers and are 7-0 in Miami this postseason.
- Pacers coach Frank Vogel received his second technical foul of the postseason late third quarter. Roy Hibbert was whistled for one in the fourth.
- Miami’s Chris Andersen (left thigh contusion) was inactive. Rashard Lewis started for the first time and the seventh time this season. Lewis was ninth different Heat player to start a game this postseason.
- The team leading 3-1 in a best-of-seven series has taken the series 96.4 percent of the time (214-8).
Up Next
Game 5: Wed., May 28 vs Miami – 8:30 p.m. ET
Limited seats remain for Wednesday's Game 5. Find Tickets »
