Indiana Pacers stun struggling Miami Heat
The Indiana Pacers came into the game knowing that they would be facing a formidable squad and they had the right mindset as they stunned the star-studded Miami Heat, 93-77, on Monday 22
November at the American Airlines Arena in Miami.
“We came into their building knowing how good they're supposed to be,” said Pacers guard Brandon Rush, who cooled down the Heat with his 20 points on 9-for-15 shooting. “And they just had
a bad night.”
Danny Granger struggled to find his rhythm as he shot 6-for-21 from the field, but the 27-year-old forward managed to finish with 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Pacers, who pulled away
in the second quarter with a huge 29-11 blast.
“Make or miss, we wanted to run,” said Pacers head coach Jim O’Brien. “We wanted to push it and move them. They were having a difficult time guarding our passing game. When they scored we
just wanted to get it in quickly and put it at them.”
Indiana, who improved their record to 6-6, built a 54-41 half-time lead, and they never looked back handing the Heat their second straight and first double-digit loss this season.
“We did not play well, we know that,” said Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra. “Everybody in the locker room understood that right now. Offensively, we didn't get into any kind of rhythm or flow
and then from there we just seemed anxious and started to force the action and really weren't moving the ball.”
LeBron James finished with 25 points, six assists, and five rebounds; Chris Bosh added 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Carlos Arroyo added 12 points each, but the
Heat continue to struggle, dropping their sixth in their first 14 games this season.
“We're in a position where we're going to get everybody's best and we haven't jelled as a team,” said Bosh, who shot 7-for-13 from the field. “This is what we asked for coming into it, and
we just have to keep going.”
Dwyane Wade, who sat out in their loss against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday 20 November, had a bad night as he finished with only three points on 1-for-13 shooting from the floor.
“A tough night for Dwyane,” said Spoelstra on Wade. “But we've been around him long enough. He always finds a way to bounce back. Getting his health is the priority, first of all. Secondly,
we know that he is very introspective as a professional athlete. That's the way I want all of our guys in the locker room to be.”
The Heat played without Udonis Haslem, who will be sidelined probably until the all-star break with a foot injury, and Miami sorely missed his presence, as they were outrebounded, 48-39,
giving up 12 offensive boards to the Pacers.
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