Pacers Frontline Delivers 2-1 Series Edge Against Heat
2012 NBA Playoffs
Indianapolis, IN
Roy Hibbert chalked up 19 points and 18 boards and George Hill recorded 20 points as the Indiana Pacers took a 2-1 series lead with a convincing 94-75 victory over the Miami Heat Thursday in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinals matchup at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
The Pacers capitalized on the absence of injured Heat forward Chris Bosh (abdominal strain) as the frontline triumvirate of Hibbert, Danny Granger, and David West fearlessly took the ball to the rack throughout the game.
Hibbert came up with his best postseason game in his young career and anchored the Pacers' solid defense. The Pacers center was busy all night on the shaded lane, swatting five blocks in the process.
Granger tallied 17 points and 7 boards and West chipped in with 14 points and 9 boards for the Pacers, who built a significant lead on a 26-12 rally in the third quarter.
LeBron James recorded 22 points, 7 boards and 3 dimes but the reigning NBA MVP just scored four points in the fourth quarter while his buddy Dwyane Wade was smothered to just five points on a miserable 2-for-13 shooting.
Mario Chalmers scored most of his team-high 24 points in the first half as the Heat found themselves in a 43-43 deadlock at the break. However, the Heat apparently run out of option in their effort to find some scoring help outside James and Wade following the injury to Bosh.
The Heat shot .372 percent from the field and .200 from the three-point line in an odd night for the renowned high-powered team. The Pacers dominated the battle for the boards (52-36 rebounds) and clearly distributed the ball better (20-9 assists) than the Heat.
After two morale-boosting win against the championship favorite Heat, the Pacers will gun for a decisive 3-1 edge in the series on Sunday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Jeremiah Johnson and Ken Sothman break down the Pacers (2-1) 94-75 game three victory over the Miami Heat:
Pacers Frontline Delivers 2-1 Series Edge Against Heat
- LeBron's 45 Points Crush Celtics
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- Pacers Frontline Delivers 2-1 Series Edge Against Heat
- Kevin Durant Rallies Thunder Past Lakers for 2-0 Series Lead
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- Lebron and Heat Cool Off, Fall To Pacers in Game 2
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- Nuggets Fend Off Late Lakers Surge to Force Game 6
- Sessions Becoming a Key to Lakers Championship Push
- Carmelo Scores 41: Knicks Avoid Sweep; Top Heat in Game 4
- James Harden's Career Night Helps Thunder Sweep Mavs
- Backcourt Consistency Gives Sixers 2-1 Series Edge Over Bulls
- Ty Lawson Leads Nuggets Back into Series vs Lakers
- Durant-Powered Thunder Rout Mavs for 3-0 Series Lead
- Lebron Guides Heat Past Knicks in Game 3
- O.J. Mayo Scores 20 as Grizzlies Top Clippers in Game 2
- Spurs Squelch Jazz in Impressive Rout; Forge 2-0 Series Lead
- Kobe Scores 38 as Lakers Beat Nuggets for 2-0 Series Lead
- Knicks Amare Stoudemire Injures Hand
- Brooklyn Nets Unveil New Logo
- Heat and Thunder Forge 2-0 Playoff Series Leads
- Jeremy Lin Hopes for Return vs Heat
- Bryant, Bynum Lift Lakers Over Nuggets
- Tony Parker Pours in 28: Spurs Blast Jazz
- Durant's Heroics Prevent Mavs From Stealing Series Opener
- LeBron James, Heat Too Strong for Knicks in Game 1
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