LeBron James scores 33 as Wade-less Miami Heat outpace the Indiana Pacers 118-83: NBA Recap
When the Miami Heat start running, there aren’t many teams in the league that can beat the Heat, not least the metaphorical Pacers.
And playing against them, when a side commits 23 turnovers, it is like spelling your own death wish. On Wednesday, the Indiana Pacers did all the things, which need to be avoided against the Heat and slumped to a massive 118-83
defeat, the first time they have conceded 100 or more points this season.
Heat enetered the game without their star shooting guard Dwyane Wade, who is nursing a sore left foot, and were led by a 33 point, 13 assists and 8 rebound effort by LeBron James. He however had huge injury scare deep in the third
quarter, when during a fast break, he stepped on George Paul’s foot in an attempt to make a layup.
Although James carried on pounding the Pacers after a brief layoff, he has been termed as day to day by the Heat and can miss out the early part of a five game road trip, starting in Atlanta on Thursday. When asked about the injury,
James said;
"It's been better, but it feels OK right now. We'll see how I feel in the morning."
Chris Bosh followed up for Miami with 22 points. James Jones, who started in place of Wade, ended the night with 14 points, as did Mario Chalmers, who also clutched 6 rebounds. Rookie Point guard Norris Cole also continued to impress
with 10 points and 5 assists while Udonis Haslem scored 8 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.
Miami kept the Indiana forwards under check throughout the night. Danny Granger, who came into the game as Pacer’s to scorer so far, was reduced to a 2 of 13 shooting for 6 points while David West only managed 9 points on 2 of
6.
With the forwards misfiring, Roy Hibbert led the Pacers with a 16 point, 12 rebounds double-double and Tyler Hansbrough came off the bench for 14. Paul George also made 13 and Darren Collison finished the night with 10 for the
Pacers, who shot 34.8 percent from the field, including just 1 of 15 in a second quarter during which Indiana also gave away 10 turnovers.
Miami started the game on a 10-4 run, but were soon chased down by the Pacers and the teams entered the second quarter, with the Heat holding a 29-27 edge.
In the second quarter though, the Pacers faded away.
James Jones started the period with two consecutive three point daggers and moments later, Heat jumped to a 25-6 blowout run to end the first half at 62-39.
The Pacers showed some spine in the third to outscore the Heat 27-26, but a 20-4 Heat run at the start of the fourth frame, iced the game.
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