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James delivers as Heat slow down Pacers
Source: Agencies |
May 24, 2013, Friday
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LEBRON James scored the game-winning points in the dying embers of overtime as the Heat held off a determined Indiana Pacers 103-102 in a thrilling Eastern Conference finals opener in Miami on Wednesday.
If broadcasters were concerned that another easy series win for Miami would further damage ratings, they got the perfect antidote with the Pacers pushing the Heat all the way and raising the prospect of a tight series.
It was scrappy and foul-ridden at times in the first half and neither side was able to dominate at any stage.
"Any time it seemed like a team was about to pull away, the other team came back," said Dwyane Wade of Miami, which has lost just one game in the playoffs so far. "We can expect this for seven games."
Replicating a finish like this one, however, might be too much to ask for.
Indiana's Paul George, whose turnover looked to have handed Miami the win in regulation, made amends in spectacular style by sinking a huge 3-pointer with just 0.7 seconds left on the clock to force overtime.
Then, with Miami two points ahead and 2.2 seconds on the clock of the first extra period, George was fouled by Wade as he attempted a 3-point shot and kept his cool to sink all three free throws to put Indiana ahead by a point. The foul was Wade's sixth, removing him from the game but he was soon back on the court celebrating.
With Miami's last throw of the dice, Shane Battier passed to James, who drove the lane on his way to a comfortable lay-up that fell a fraction ahead of the buzzer and sent the Heat crowd into a frenzy.
James top-scored for Miami with 30 points on 12-of-24 shooting with 10 rebounds and 10 assists as he completed his ninth postseason triple-double, tying Wilt Chamberlain for the fifth most in postseason history.
George had 27 points for the Pacers with David West contributing 26.
If broadcasters were concerned that another easy series win for Miami would further damage ratings, they got the perfect antidote with the Pacers pushing the Heat all the way and raising the prospect of a tight series.
It was scrappy and foul-ridden at times in the first half and neither side was able to dominate at any stage.
"Any time it seemed like a team was about to pull away, the other team came back," said Dwyane Wade of Miami, which has lost just one game in the playoffs so far. "We can expect this for seven games."
Replicating a finish like this one, however, might be too much to ask for.
Indiana's Paul George, whose turnover looked to have handed Miami the win in regulation, made amends in spectacular style by sinking a huge 3-pointer with just 0.7 seconds left on the clock to force overtime.
Then, with Miami two points ahead and 2.2 seconds on the clock of the first extra period, George was fouled by Wade as he attempted a 3-point shot and kept his cool to sink all three free throws to put Indiana ahead by a point. The foul was Wade's sixth, removing him from the game but he was soon back on the court celebrating.
With Miami's last throw of the dice, Shane Battier passed to James, who drove the lane on his way to a comfortable lay-up that fell a fraction ahead of the buzzer and sent the Heat crowd into a frenzy.
James top-scored for Miami with 30 points on 12-of-24 shooting with 10 rebounds and 10 assists as he completed his ninth postseason triple-double, tying Wilt Chamberlain for the fifth most in postseason history.
George had 27 points for the Pacers with David West contributing 26.
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