Miami Heat’s Tyler Herro was wired with a microphone to enhance the fan experience from home. Jimmy Butler took advantage of shouting his thoughts into Herro’s microphone during a time out, which had nothing to do with the game.
“Put me in your tiky tok,” Butler partially shared.
It was that kind of game for the Heat.
Duncan Robinson warmed it up for the Heat, connecting on his first six shots, all from 3-point range. He finished with 24 points. The rest of the team raised the Heat. Goran Dragic scored 20 points, Jimmy Butler had 18 points and six assists, rookie Tyler Herro added 15 points off the bench, and Jae Crowder scored 10.
The Heat beat the Pacers 109-100 on Thursday for a 2-0 lead in their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.
Dare I say it, Miami may sweep Indiana. They are clicking on all cylinders.
Miami shot well from 3 point land. They hit 8 of 16 in the first half to make up for their poor shooting at the free-throw line (11-of-18). The Heat finished 18 of 35 from 3-point range (51.4%), setting a team playoff record for made 3s.
“I Just felt a better rhythm in this one for whatever reason,” Robinson shared. “But that can’t be the case for me. I got to kind of assert myself and not just have the game necessarily come to me, but be more aggressive.”
Though the fifth seed, the Heat went 3-1 against the Pacers during the regular season.
The Pacers now need four wins to remain in the bubble. I don’t see how their offense can match the Heat defensive pressure.
Pacers are without all-star Domantas Sabonis, who leads the Pacers with 18.5 points and 12.5 rebounds, also averages 5.0 assists as he was the center — literally — of the Pacers’ offensive’ attack.
The Pacers outscored Miami 40-34 in the paint. Although the NBA’s third-best 3-point shooting team is entering the bubble, they struggled, hitting only 12 of 34.
It is unfair to say Victor Oladipo needs to carry the team to four wins as he is still working his way back from a right knee injury he suffered returning over a year later in late January.
Oladipo was questionable with an injured left eye but led Indiana with 22 points. Myles Turner and Malcolm Brogdon both had 17 points. T.J. Warren had 14, and Aaron Holiday had 12.
The beat goes on, game three on Saturday.
Photo/MiamiHeat/MiamiHeat
