The two teams with the best records in the Eastern Conference met on Wednesday night as the Miami Heat fell to the Indiana Pacers 84-83 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Heat are now three games behind the Pacers for first place in the Eastern Conference. Miami lost their fourth one-point game this season.
Indiana(52-20) started the game on a 21-12 edge after ten minutes and were up 23-17 after one quarter. Miami(48-22) to within three points 31-28 on a Dwyane Wade dunk with 5:22 remaining in the second, but the Pacers responded with a 9-2 spurt to go up by double digits 40-30. The Heat went on a 15-4 run at the end of the first half to lead 45-44.
The Pacers began the second half as they outscored the Heat 15-8, however Miami stomped back on a 15-2 run to get ahead 68-61 with under one minute left in the third. Miami had their seven-point margin in the fourth quarter evaporate as Indiana went on an 13-2 spurt to regain the lead 76-72 with 5:01 to go. The Heat would score the next eight points and moved ahead 80-76 with 3:23 remaining. Indiana followed with eight consecutive points down the stretch which was capped on a three-point shot by David West with 50.2 seconds left to make it 84-80.
LeBron James compiled 38 points, five assists and eight rebounds in 43 minutes for the Heat. It was the 26th time this season that he scored at least 30 points in a game. Wade contributed 15 points and Chris Bosh added eight points.
Paul George led Indiana with 23 points and eight rebounds while Roy Hibbert nailed down 21 points. West fell short of a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. Lance Stephenson, who was ejected with 5:01 left in the game, dropped in 15 points.
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