Indiana Pacers News

Heat vs. Pacers Links: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade close out Game 2 for Heat as Pacers miss shots, big opportunity

The Heat earned a split with a Game 2 win and with it home court advantage as the Eastern Conference finals shifts to Miami for Game 3 on Saturday.

By Tom Lewis@IndyCornrows May 21, 2014, 7:00am EDT

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In a four-point loss it doesn't take long to add up the missed opportunities that might have swayed the game the other way. For the Pacers, they need look no further than their shot chart in general and the final five minutes in particular.

"We knew we'd have to play a complete game to win this one," David West said after the game. "We've got to shoot the ball better than we did, we got a ton of quality looks, didn't get 'em to go but in the fourth quarter it was still our game. I just thought their pressure disrupted us. We had two or three turnovers that led to baskets for them and it cost us the game."

West himself missed two quality looks in his wheelhouse in the fourth quarter which were among the opportunities to extend the lead in a tight game but instead kept Miami in position to pounce when given the opportunity.

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade took care of the pouncing by scoring or assisting on Miami's final 33 points including every bucket in the fourth quarter. The stars rose to the challenge and waited out the Pacers until they stumbled in the last five minutes.

Paul George wasn't himself in the final few minutes after hitting his head in a collision with Dwyane Wade which he said made him blackout. A few plays later, PG fell and slammed the back of his head into Roy Hibbert's knee. No doubt after this physically and mentally draining loss, the Pacers will welcome the three days off to rest up and ready their attack for Miami where the series moves as the Heat now own home-court advantage in a best of five series.

Check out the links:

Heat at Pacers, Game 2 - Box score

Game Rewind: Pacers 83 Heat 87, Game 2 | THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE INDIANA PACERS

James helps Heat beat Pacers 87-83 in Game 2 - AP

James, Wade a recurring nightmare for Pacers - 1070 The Fan

Kravitz: Pacers will regret letting this one slip away - Indy Star

Pacers Let 'em Off The Hook | THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE INDIANA PACERS

The Phil Naessens Show: Miami Heat Indiana Heat Game Two Preview & Portland Trailblazers NBA Talk | The Phil Naessens Show

Lance Stephenson Show was spectacular, but not enough - Indy Star

Paul George says he "blacked out" in collision with Dwyane Wade - Indy Star

Wade, LeBron carry Heat to gritty Game 2 win - Hot Hot Hoops

Greg Cote: Dwyane Wade, LeBron James are sparkplugs in key Miami Heat victory - Greg Cote - MiamiHerald.com