|
|
|
NBA EAST SEMIS -- Heat overpowers Pacers, ties series at 2-2 By Scott Au PhilBoxing.com Mon, 21 May 2012 INDIANAPOLIS -- Down and reeling, the Miami Heat stood up fighting Sunday afternoon and tied the Eastern Conference semifinals at 2-2 by beating the Indiana Pacers, 101-93, in Game 4 of their best-of-7 series at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse. LeBron James carried the Heat on his back with the flair of a 3-time MVP, scoring 40 points, grabbing 18 rebounds and dishing nine assists as No.2 seeded Miami overcame an 8-point halftime deficit and regained homecourt advantage over the No.3 seeded Indiana. "I felt like I had to do whatever it took to win," James told reporters after the game. James made 14 of 27 field goals and sank 12 of 16 free throws. He was at the forefront of Miami's attack, setting up teammates and relentlessly attacking the hoop. Miami hit only 38 of 80 shots and 5 of 12 3s, but it got plenty from Dwyane Wade who bounced back from his poor Game 3 effort with 30 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Wade, the 2006 NBA Finals MVP when Miami won it all, was unstoppable in the third quarter where the Heat pulled away with a 30-16 run. Udonis Haslem was a pleasant suprise for the Heat. The gritty veteran, who was benched in the second half of Game 3, chipped in 14 points. He drilled crucial jumpers time and time again in the fourth quarter when the Pacers defense swarmed at James and Wade. AFTER a torrid start that saw them open with a 7-0 lead and 54-46 at halftime, the Pacers cooled off dramatically in the second half, wilting with just 16 third quarter points as Miami mounted an impressive blitz. The Pacers made 20 of their 24 free throws but they ended up making only 33 of 79 field goals (41.9 percent) and 7 of 22 treys (31.8 percent). That wasn't enough to hold off the Heat, who also had more rebounds (47-38) and more assists (20-17). Danny Granger led Indiana with 20 points, but he missed 10 of 18 shots and didn't shoot a single free throw. He also tallied five rebounds and three assists and picked up a technical foul in the third quarter, his third infraction in as many games. The 7-foot-2 Roy Hibbert was supposed to be Indy's difference maker in the paint, one who could anchor the defense, seize the big rebounds to fuel fastbreaks and clog the middle. But the man-mountain was hindered by five fouls and managed just 10 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Darren Collison chipped in 16 from the bench for the Pacers. (Scott Au) Click here to view a list of other articles written by Scott Au. |
|
PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general. Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com |
PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
developed and maintained by dong secuya © 2025 philboxing.com. |