With the intensity and physicality the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat displayed on Wednesday, it looked like the Eastern Conference final was on the line.
Evan Turner hit the go-ahead layup with 90 seconds remaining and David West buried a rare 3-pointer during a late 8-0 run, and the Pacers beat the visiting two-time defending NBA Champions 84-83 in a bruising battle of East powers. “I’m very proud of our effort to battle back a few different times where it seemed like Miami was taking control of the game. We responded each time,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said.
The Pacers clinched their second straight Central Division crown but only after Chris Bosh airballed a potential game-winning jumper at the buzzer.
Paul George had 23 points, Roy Hibbert scored 21 sfor Indiana (52-20) which moved three games in front of Miami for the top seed in the East.
James had 38 points while Dwyane Wade added 15 before leaving late in the game with a hamstring strain as the Heat lost for the eighth time in the last 13 games.
The testy contest featured the Pacers twice getting whistled in the fourth quarter for flagrant fouls on James that were overturned by officials after review.
Miami led 80-76 but couldn’t keep hold it.
After a turnover by Miami’s Mario Chalmers, Turner made a nifty layup to put the Pacers ahead 81-80 with 1:30 left.
West drained a wide-open triple — just his fourth of the season at the other end — to make it 84-80. But Bosh countered with a 3-pointer of his own to make it a one-point game.
George Hill had a chance to ice the game for the Pacers but the 83 per cent free throw shooter blew both tosses giving the Heat a final shot.
James took the in-bound pass out of a timeout with two seconds left and zipped a pass over to Bosh whose jumper from the right side fell well short at the buzzer.
Other Results
San Antonio Spurs 108 - 103 Denver Nuggets
New Orleans Pelicans 98 - 96 LA Clippers
Toronto Raptors 99 - 90 Boston Celtics
New York Knicks 107 - 99 Sacramento Kings
Minnesota T’wolves 107 - 83 Atlanta Hawks
Phoenix Suns 99 - 93 Washington Wizards
Charlotte Bobcats 116 - 111(OT) Brooklyn Nets
Cleveland Cavaliers 97 - 96 Detroit Pistons
Memphis Grizzlies 91 - 87 Utah Jazz
