Miami Heat collapse versus Indiana Pacers, falling 120-95
By Chase Eyrich
A second half collapse from the Miami Heat gave the Indiana Pacers a huge 120-95 win.
Things looked dim early on, as the Indiana Pacers pushed out to a fast start against the Miami Heat on Sunday afternoon; mainly thanks to six straight points (in less than two minutes) to start off the night from Myles Turner. However, Miami found some light as they pushed things down into the paint to start off a 7-0 run.
As the Heat started the matchup off with a sloppy first few minutes of play, things started to become more efficient for the Heat. Goran Dragic had a quick eight points, thanks to two shots from downtown.
But it was the defense that kept the Heat in this one, taking advantage of turnovers in the final five minutes of the first quarter. Nothing was better than the perimeter defense, as the Pacers were unable to hit a 3 until ten minutes were left in the first half.
This trend did not hold true for the Pacers defense either. Miami, who averages 11 3’s per game, had no problem hitting the trifecta in the first half. Wayne Ellington hit four 3-pointers in just seven minutes, and it didn’t end there. Ellington finished the afternoon, hitting seven from beyond-the-arc.
Pacers grabbed the lead 58-55 going into the locker room at half. Turner continued to perform at a high level with 20 first half points on 9-of-10 shooting.
Unfortunately, sharp shooting and turnovers changed the momentum of this game coming out for the second half. A 12-0 run for the Pacers pushed them out to an 18-point lead, mid-way through the third.
Trying to find an answer in the struggling third quarter, head coach Erik Spoelstra sent in Bam Adebayo. With a block and two monster dunks, it still wouldn’t provide enough of a push for the Heat.
The Pacers would out score the Heat 32-13 in the third, for a 90-68 lead going into the fourth.
Indiana would continue to dismantle the Heat in the fourth, as the offense just disappeared. Dion Waiter’s returned back to his struggling ways, going 0-for-10 from the floor. This would hold to be his first scoreless game for the Heat.
Forced to start shooting from the perimeter, the shots that were once falling, no longer, did. Miami’s 3-point shooting dropped to 35 percent. And the strong performance from Ellington’s 21 points, was erased by the Pacers own offensive production.
Next: Miami Heat's Justise Winslow is finally starting to find his game
Miami will look to bounce back Wednesday night, versus the red-hot Boston Celtics inside AmericanAirlines Arena, with a 7:30 PM ET tip.