NBA Playoffs: Heat Take Command in 4th Quarter, Take 3-2 Series Lead

May 30, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) draws a foul on Indiana Pacers shooting guard Lance Stephenson (1) in the fourth quarter of game five of the Eastern Conference finals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 90-79. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

Miami Heat 90 Indiana Pacers 79

 How Miami Won: In the first half, it seemed like the Heat were running out of fuel, until Lebron James woke up.  The Pacers held a 20 point lead at one point in the first half, but James scored 16 of his 30 points in the third quarter that turned the tide of the series.

Indiana was up 46-40 early in the second half, when James lead the charge, sparking a 30-10 Heat run in the next 11 minutes.  The four-time MVP scored or assisted for 25 of the 30 Miami points.  He also shot 7 for 10 in the quarter while the Pacers shot 3 for 14 as a team.

James also added 8 rebounds and 6 assists, while Udonis Haslem scored 16 points, including making his last 8 shot attempts.  Mario Chalmers added 12 points and Dwyane Wade added 10.

 How Indiana Lost: The Pacers came out with the same intensity and attitude they had from their game 4 win.  Everything was going right until they began turning the ball over.  The Heat were able to capitalize on 18 Indiana turnovers, which lead to 22 fast break points.

 Paul George ended a string of bad games, finishing with 27 points and 11 rebounds, while Roy Hibbert added 22 points and 6 rebounds.  David West scored 17 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, but the backcourt of the Pacers were dismal.

 Lance Stephenson finished with just 4 points, George Hill scored 1 point and had 4 assists on 0 for 4 shooting, and D.J. Augustin was scoreless in 18 minutes.  The bulk of the Pacers problems in the second half started with the three players having trouble handling the ball.  They combined for 7 turnovers, and a six point second half lead turned into a 14 point Heat lead heading into the fourth quarter.

 It Was Over When: After the 30-10 run, Miami took a 14 point lead into the final period. Indiana never got within single digits in the fourth quarter, and shot 3 for 7 from the field in the final 4 minutes.

 Quote of the Night: “That’s what I came here for, to be able to compete for a championship each and every year.  I’m one step away from doing it once again. It’s not promised. It’s not promised at all. I made a tough decision. Obviously, I think we all know the story. I envisioned something that was bigger as far as a team … and we’ve got an opportunity as a team, once again, for the third year straight to make a trip to the NBA Finals.” –Lebron James

Box Score:

Indiana Pacers

STARTERS

MIN

FGM-A

3PM-A

FTM-A

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

41

7-16

0-0

3-4

2

6

8

0

1

1

0

1

-19

17

44

11-19

5-8

0-0

0

11

11

5

1

0

5

2

-6

27

40

8-14

0-0

6-6

2

4

6

0

0

2

3

3

-1

22

37

0-4

0-2

1-1

0

0

0

4

3

0

3

4

-2

1

28

2-7

0-1

0-0

0

3

3

2

1

1

3

6

-15

4

BENCH

MIN

FGM-A

3PM-A

FTM-A

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

8

1-3

0-0

1-2

1

1

2

0

0

0

0

0

+8

3

17

1-1

0-0

0-0

0

1

1

0

0

0

2

0

-2

2

8

1-3

0-0

1-2

1

1

2

0

0

1

0

2

-10

3

18

0-2

0-2

0-0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

-8

0

DNP COACH’S DECISION

DNP COACH’S DECISION

DNP COACH’S DECISION

DNP COACH’S DECISION

TOTALS

FGM-A

3PM-A

FTM-A

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

PTS

Miami Heat

STARTERS

MIN

FGM-A

3PM-A

FTM-A

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

26

8-9

0-0

0-0

3

0

3

0

0

1

0

2

+11

16

44

13-26

3-7

1-4

0

8

8

6

2

1

3

1

+14

30

33

3-7

1-1

0-0

0

5

5

1

1

0

0

2

+12

7

34

5-12

2-4

0-0

0

1

1

6

1

0

1

3

+13

12

41

3-8

0-1

4-6

2

4

6

4

1

1

3

0

+6

10

BENCH

MIN

FGM-A

3PM-A

FTM-A

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

+/-

PTS

18

2-2

0-0

0-0

0

4

4

0

1

2

0

2

+1

4

8

0-2

0-2

0-0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

1

-8

0

15

2-3

0-0

0-0

0

1

1

2

0

1

0

0

-2

4

21

2-6

1-3

2-2

1

3

4

0

0

0

2

0

+8

7

DNP COACH’S DECISION

DNP COACH’S DECISION

DNP COACH’S DECISION

DNP COACH’S DECISION

TOTALS

FGM-A

3PM-A

FTM-A

OREB

DREB

REB

AST

STL

BLK

TO

PF

PTS