NBA Playoffs 2014 Bracket, Standings & Schedule: Indiana Pacers Survive Game 5, Defeat Miami Heat 93-90
For the first time in these Conference Finals (East or West) we actually got a close, competitive game that was decided in the final moments. The Indiana Pacers defeated the Miami Heat by a score of 93-90.
Incredibly, 10 players scored more points than LeBron James did in game five after he scored just seven points. However, that isn't the entire story. James got into early foul trouble and played sparingly throughout the game. James didn't even take a single shot attempt in the second and third quarter combined and was held to a career playoff low of just seven points and 24 minutes, just half the game.
With James unable to get into a rhythm because of foul trouble, Paul George thrived. George led all scorers with 37 points on a 15-28 shooting performance. George owed this game to his team after disappearing multiple times in the previous four games.
But we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves, as the Pacers are just denying the inevitable.
The last time the Heat lost two consecutive playoff games was way back in the 2012 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. If the Pacers are going to beat the heat in game six for a second straight game, they are going to have to win on the road. In this game five victory, the Pacers out-shot the Heat at the free throw line 22-8, a huge disparity. Is that going to happen again in game six? Highly unlikely considering the Heat will have home court advantage.
There's a very high chance LeBron James will play more than 24 minutes in game six and have more than seven points. Despite James not playing very much in game five, the Heat did have a very good chance to win. In the closing seconds, LeBron drove to the basket with a chance to tie the game but he kicked it back out the perimeter to Chris Bosh, who shot and missed a potential go ahead three point shot.
The Heat have lost game five, but it may have been a "motivational win." Who would have thought the Pacers would only win by three points at home, with James only scoring two baskets and playing half the game? The Pacers look to carry this momentum into game six. If the Pacers can somehow win that game, they will force a game seven showdown winner take all back home in Indiana.
Game 6 can be seen Friday Night at 8:30 EST on ESPN.
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