Paul George and Roy Hibbert combined to score 51 points Friday night as the Indiana Pacers held off the Miami Heat to even the series in Game 2. LeBron James led all scorers with 36 points, but it wasn’t enough as two late turnovers cost the Heat any chance of taking a 2-0 series lead.
Roy Hibbert was unstoppable in the paint, and the 26-year-old finished with a playoff career-high 29 points and 10 rebounds in the 97-93 win. With the series tied at one, the Pacers now have home-court advantage as the teams’ move on to Indiana for Game 3 on Sunday.
The Pacers closed out the Heat with a 13-5 run in the final minutes, handing the defending NBA champions only their fourth loss in the last 50 games. Paul George made an impact once again, finishing with 22 points, two rebounds, and six assists.
David West forced the late turnovers by James, but he also added 13 points and seven rebounds in the contest. Guard George Hill pitched in 18 points while Lance Stephenson managed 10 points and eight rebounds.
The Pacers shot 50 percent from the floor while forcing 14 turnovers in the game. The Heat rallied in the third quarter, but a late rush by the Pacers cut any chance of a comeback.
“It’s one of the best basketball games I’ve ever been a part of,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said after the win. ”It wasn’t about LeBron making mistakes down the stretch. He played one of the best basketball games I’ve ever seen anybody play. We were just able to make a couple plays late in the game.”
It was LeBron James or nothing for the Heat on Friday, as the league’s MVP shot 14-for-20 from the floor while the rest of the starters shot 14-for-35 combined. Dwyane Wade pitched in 14 points, but he never really found his stroke in just over 40 minutes on the court.
The Pacers will now look to continue rolling as they head home for Game 3 at Bankers Life Field House. They’ve yet to lose at home in the playoffs after going 6-0 combined through the first two rounds.
Can Paul George and the Indiana Pacers take control of the series on Sunday?
[Image via Mark Runyon | Basketball Schedule ]
