MIAMI -- The Indiana Pacers scored their first road win of the young season by squeaking past the Miami Heat, 81-75, in a thrilling back and forth encounter on Wednesday night at the American Airlines Arena.
Playing without six of their seven best players due to injuries, the depleted Pacers pulled the mild upset by dominating the glass, 53-28, including 16-6 on the offensive boards that helped Indiana shoot slightly more field goals at 80-68.
Pacers forward Chris Copeland broke a 75-75 tie with a driving lay-up with 42.8 seconds left to play in the fourth quarter. Mario Chalmers was slapped with an offensive foul in the ensuing Heat possession and the Pacers swished four more free throws to seal the deal.
Copeland was the main man for the Pacers with 17 while 7-foot-2 center Roy Hibbert anchored the middle with 16 markers and 15 rebounds. Former PBA import Donald Sloan assumed the point guard chores over the sidelined George Hill and ran the Pacers offense very well with 15 points and six dimes.
Multiple All-Star Dwyane Wade hit 8-of-16 field goals to lead the Heat with 20. Shawne Williams added 15 but Chris Bosh and Luol Deng missed 18 shots between them and combined only for 14 points.
The Heat struggled mightily from the floor, just 29 of 68 field goals made. They also missed a boatload of free throws, making only eight of 18 attempts.
After a tepid 1-6 start, the Pacers have racked up two victories in arrow for a 3-6 card. Miami fell to 5-3. (RG)
Photo: Roy Hibbert (L) was a tower of power against the Miami Heat, scoring 16 and pulling down 15 rebounds to lead the Indiana Pacers to an 81-75 triumph at the American Airlines Arena.
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