Game Preview: Pacers at Heat

Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 PM ET at Miami-Dade Arena

If the first three games were any indication, the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat are set for another fierce matchup on Wednesday night in the Sunshine State.

Indiana (25-30) enters their fourth and final game against the Heat (29-25) leading the season series 2-1. All three games came down to the wire, with the Pacers winning the last contest on a 43-point night – and last-second 3-pointer – from All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton while the first two games were decided by five points or fewer.

The first three games were decided by 11 points combined.

Indiana comes into the game off a 122-103 loss on Sunday to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and are 2-8 over their last 10 games. Miami is 5-5 over their last 10 games, but have won six straight at home and are 17-9 at Miami-Dade Arena.

The Heat are a tough defensive team, with the second-fewest points allowed per game at 108.4. They also get the job done at the free throw line, shooting 82.2 percent from the charity stripe – good for third-highest in the NBA.

Jimmy Butler has continued to lead the Heat this season by averaging 21.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.1 steals this season.

A key matchup will be between the men in the middle, as Pacers center Myles Turner comes in with three straight double-doubles and is averaging 17.7 points per game and 8.1 rebounds this season while the Heat's center Bam Adebayo is putting up 21.5 points, 10  rebounds and 3.2 assists.

Against the Cavs, Turner finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds.

Since his 10-game absence due to right knee and elbow sprains, Haliburton has logged at least 31 minutes the last three games while achieving a double-double twice, including 15 points and 11 assists against the Cavaliers.

Despite Halliburton's return, the Pacers are averaging just 107 points per game over their last three games. However, the Heat are even lower at 106.3 points scored per contest over that same span.

The Heat haven’t played since Saturday when they beat the Milwaukee Bucks 123-115 on the road.

Butler scored 32 points in the content and Tyler Herro – the 2022 SIxth Man of the Year – poured in 24.

Pacers: G - Tyrese Haliburton,  G - Andrew Nembhard, F - Buddy Hield, F - Aaron Nesmith, C - Myles Turner

Heat: G - Gabe Vincent, G - Tyler Herro, F - Caleb Martin, F - Jimmy Butler, C - Bam Adebayo

Pacers: Chris Duarte - questionable (sore right ankle)

Heat: Orlando Robinson - probable (fractured right thumb), Gabe Vincent - probable (right ankle inflammation), Nikola Jovic - out (back stress reaction), Kyle Lowry - out (sore right knee), Victor Oladipo - out (right ankle sprain), Duncan Robinson - out (finger surgery recovery), Omer Yurtseven - out (left ankle)

Dec. 23, 2022: Haliburton posted 43 points and hit a game-winning 3-pointer with 2.6 seconds left to lift the Blue & Gold over the Heat 111-108 in Miami.

On top of the career-high in points, Haliburton broke the Pacers franchise record for made 3-pointers in a game by draining 10 treys. Haliburton shot 14-for-20 from the field and 10-for-16 from 3-point range.

Miami rallied from a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter before Herro hit a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left to tie it.

Hield also had a solid night from beyond the arc for the Blue & Gold, nailing seven 3-pointers for 21 points, while Jalen Smith chipped in 14 points and collected 14 rebounds.

Herro led the Heat with 28 points, Lowry added 21 and Butler totaled 20.

Indiana as a team shot 48.2 percent while holding the Heat to 43.2 percent from the field. The visitors also won the rebounding margin 43-38 but were outscored 52-36 in the paint.

TV: Bally Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)

Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)

The Pacers return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns on Friday, Feb. 10 at 7:00 PM ET. Find Tickets >>