While the Indiana Pacers aren’t favored to win the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat, they did show Wednesday night they are capable of testing this great team.
LeBron James finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists while hitting the game winning layup at the end of overtime.
The layup gave Miami a 103-102 win and a 1-0 series lead.
“We let one get away,” Pacers Paul George said post game.
George scored 25 of his 27 points in the second half and over time. He also hit the game tying 3 to send the game into overtime.
It was his defense at the end of overtime that will overshadow his clutch performance.
“I saw an open lane, I knew I had plenty of time,” James said of the layup.
The game winning shot erased Wade’s late three-point foul on George. The Pacers young player hit all three free throws to give Indiana a one point lead.
Coming out of the timeout Miami inbounded from the sideline. James flashed to the free throw line while George over played the inbound pass. Allowing James to connect on the layup.
Roy Hibbert, the Pacers best defensive player and a great shot blocker, was not in on the last play.
“I’m not sure why, he’s the coach and I’m the player,” Hibbert said of the decision.
Pacers head coach Frank Vogel explained he didn’t want Bosh to get an easy jumper.
“It may have been the wrong decision,” Vogel said.
Hibbert finished with 19 points and 9 rebounds.
The reigning NBA MVP James is the only player in the past 40 years to score 30 points, grab 10 rebounds and dish out 10 assists while shooting 50% from the field in a playoff game.
Game two will be Friday night in Miami, tip off set for 8:30pm.
