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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
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
Miami Heat, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James take on Indiana Pacers - Sun Sentinel
Daily Dime: Dwyane Wade's patient approach pays off in Game 2 - ESPN
Pacers vs. Heat Game 2 final score, highlights and reaction - SBNation.com
Good morning, the NBA is rigged for ... the Cleveland Cavaliers? - SBNation.com
2014 NBA mock draft: Cavaliers should go big at No. 1 with Joel Embiid - SBNation.com
George’s vision blurs, Pacers fade " NBA.com | Hang Time Blog with Sekou Smith
Improving Wade leads Heat to Game 2 win " NBA.com | Hang Time Blog with Sekou Smith
Indiana Pacers – Champion Heat rise up late to take home court back in 87-83 loss | KentSterling.com
Pacers Outplayed Late by Heat in Game 2
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade key Heat's Game 2 win - NBA - Matt Dollinger - SI.com
Paul George struggles in Game 2, costs Pacers 2-0 series lead - CBSSports.com
Cleveland Cavaliers win 2014 NBA draft lottery | The Point Forward - SI.com