ScoreBoard: Heat Beat Pacers In Indiana, Even Series 1-1

Dwyane Wade’s team-high 23 points and 5 assists helped the Miami Heat defeat the Indiana Pacers 87-83. LeBron James had an all-around game with 23 points, 7 rebounds, team-high 6 assists and game-high 3 blocks for the Heat. Chris Bosh had 9 points and 6 rebounds for the Heat. Bosh has yet to score in double-figures in this series. Chris Andersen came off the bench with a team-high 12 rebounds for the Heat. Andersen is averaging 8 rebounds this series.

Lance Stephenson had 25 points and 7 assists both game-highs for the Pacers. All the Pacers starters scored in double-figures in the second straight game. Paul George had 14 point, 6 assists and 5 rebounds for the Pacers. George made a disappointing 4 out of 16 shots. Roy Hibbert had 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds for Indiana. The Pacers didn’t get any help from their bench players, their bench scored 9 points compared to the 20 points the Heat bench players scored.

 
The Heat will play the next two games in Miami, with the series being tied they can possibly go up 3-1 in this series. The Heat will need to play center Greg Oden this series to match the Pacers size. Oden was signed as a free agent this offseason to give Bosh and Andersen more help against Hibbert in the playoffs. Oden is 7 feet and 273 lbs., he is the Heat tallest and biggest player and if he plays at least 20 minutes a game the Heat should make it to the NBA Finals again.

Photo Credit: Al Diaz/Miami Herald (photo 1), Andy Lyons/Getty Images (photo 2)