Down 0-2 in the series, the Indiana Pacers need a win on Saturday to prevent falling down the dreaded 0-3 hole against the surging Miami Heat. Will the Pacers cut Miami’s series lead in half? Or will the Heat move a win closer to the second round of the playoffs?
The Pacers have to find solutions soon or else their time in Orlando would come to an end sooner than later. The Pacers lost again to Miami last Thursday, 109-100. Indiana was led by Victor Oladipo, who exited Game 1 early due to an eye issue. Cleared for return in Game 2, Oladipo scored a team-high 22 points to go with four 3-pointers and four assists. Myles Turner also put up a better effort on Thursday than in Game 1, netting 17 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks. Turner played with a sense of urgency on both ends of the floor, but this time, it was TJ Warren’s turn to cool off. Warren, who leads the Pacers in the bubble with 31.0 points per game, scored just 14 points in Game 2 and even went 0 for 5 from deep. It will take Indiana’s biggest guns to go off at the same time to get back into this series, so expect that as a priority of this team in Game 3. Turner also limited Bam Adebayo to seven points for the entire game. The Pacers need that type of performance from Turner all the time.
Unlike the Pacers, Miami is not having a hard time getting even production from their best players. In Game 2, it was Duncan Robinson’s time to shine, as the hot-shooting former Michigan Wolverine splashed in seven of eight 3-point attempts and finished with 24 points. Goran Dragic had 20 points, Butler 18, and Tyler Herro chipped in 15 more off the bench. Speaking of which, Miami’s second unit outscored Indiana’s, 30-18, in Game 2. Butler has also seemed to find his stroke from deep in the series, as he’s gone 4 for 5 on his 3-pointers since the start of the first round. Outside sniping has played a huge role in the success of Miami not only in this series so far, but this season. The Heat are red hot from behind the arc of late, connecting on 44.3 percent of their 3-pointers over their last two games.
The Heat are 2-0 against the spread in their last two games.
