The Indiana Pacers and the Miami Heat were the best two teams in the East all year, and over the past two years have been evenly matched -- as they split 14 games in that time, each winning 7 times. But each team had only managed to win one game on the road, so with Indiana holding home-court advantage in the series, that maybe the difference as to who advances to the NBA Finals.
Indy would take advantage of the familar surroundings to open up a 9-point lead off George Hill’s 3. He had 15, 11 in the opening. But the champs would keep it close, LeBron James skying for the alley-oop from Mario Chalmers to cut it to 5.
Miami would be led by Dwyane Wade on this night, muscling his way in for the hoop and the harm, but Indiana is still in front. And right before the half, some nice passing from the home side leads to the Roy Hibbert hoop and harm. Indy would lead by 10 at recess.
The Pacers would start to take charge in the second half -- Lance Stephenson’s three makes it an 18-point lead for the home side. The Heat would go on a run and score 8-straight points, including this theft and flush from LeBron. Miami hanging around. Then James finds a cutting Wade for the bucket, and the lead is down to single digits in the fourth. Indy, would not flinch and go back in front by 14, on the Paul George triple, and they are loving it in "Nap-town"
The champs would not go quietly, LeBron hits the ridiculous three, while being fouled, the four point play trims the margin, but time is running out. The Pacers would then seal things inside three-minutes as David West gets his man to bite on the fake. Indiana draws first blood in the Eastern Conference final winning game 1, 107-96.
"I mean that’s probably us at our worst defensively. And you have to give them credit. They played well and we never got into a rhythm where we could defend without fouling." Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said.