Mar

26

Pacers Hold Off D-Wade, Heat 90-88

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under NBA Game Recap 

Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger

As usual, despite the Indiana Pacers’ home success against the Miami Heat, they had that one nemesis who usually has their number: Heat guard Dwyane Wade.  Wednesday night’s game between these two opponents was no different as while Wade got his points, his missed desperation 3-pointer attempt enabled Indiana to escape Conseco Fieldhouse with a narrow 90-88 win.

Wade kept the Heat in the game in the first half, despite making only 3-of-13 shots; his 6 free throws – including the first two during a 10-2 run that erased a 7-point Pacers lead.  A 3-pointer by James Jones and a Michael Beasley basket put Miami up 29-27 early in the second quarter; a pair of free throws by Wade pushed the Heat’s lead to 49-45 with 13 ticks left on the first-half game clock, but a 3-pointer by Indiana’s Jarrett Jack put the Pacers to within one at 49-48.

Miami held their largest lead, 74-70, on a pair of Mario Chalmers free throws before a basket by the Pacers’ T.J. Ford started a Indiana run; during the run, Granger had seven points while Ford added 6, while a trey by Granger gave Indiana their largest lead at 90-80.  But a pair of scores by former Pacer Jermaine O’Neal during a 8-0 Heat run put them to within two; Miami had a couple chances to tie the game, but neither Udonis Haslem nor Wade could hit baskets when they were needed the most.

Indiana’s high scorer was Granger with 28 points (including five 3-pointers), 4 rebounds, an assist, 3 steals and 2 blocks while Ford added 20 with 9 rebounds, 3 assists and a block; Jeff Foster, despite scoring only 5 points, grabbed 16 boards.

Miami was led by Wade with 21 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals while Haslem added 18 with 14 rebounds and an assist.  Indiana (30-42) plays again on Saturday when they make the short trip to Chicago to take on the Bulls while Miami (38-33) also travels to Chicago to face the Bulls, but on Thursday.


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