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Heat left out in the cold as Pacers power into finals
Miami, May 22: Ron Artest poured in a game-high 27 points, as Indiana advanced to the Eastern Conference finals with a 73-70 win.
Miami, May 22: Ron Artest poured in a game-high 27 points, as Indiana advanced to the Eastern Conference finals with a 73-70 win.
Ron Artest poured in a game-high 27 points, as Indiana advanced to the Eastern Conference finals with a 73-70 win over Miami in Game 6 of their semifinal set at American Airlines Arena.
Reggie Miller added 15 points and six rebounds and Jamaal Tinsley contributed 10 points for the Pacers, who won the best-of-seven matchup 4-2 and will next meet either Detroit or New Jersey in the conference finals. The Pistons and Nets will play Game 7 of their series on Thursday night.
Jermaine O'Neal scored just seven points, but grabbed a game-best 13 boards in the win. Indiana improved to 6-0 all-time in Eastern Conference semifinal series and will appear in the conference finals for the first time since 2000, when it eventually lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.
Dwyane Wade had 24 points for the Heat, who had their 18-game home winning streak dating back to the regular season snapped.
Lamar Odom chipped in 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Heat, who hadn't lost as the host since March 2 versus Toronto.
The Pacers converted only 32 percent of their shots from the field (22-of-68), but made up for it by connecting on 26-of-33 attempts from the foul line (79 percent). Miami shot 30.5 percent from the floor (25-of-82) and was 19-of-22 from the charity stripe (86 percent), but was outrebounded 53-42.
The Heat trailed by seven points after three quarters, but came roaring back in the fourth, courtesy of a 6-0 run that was highlighted by four points from Wade to start the period.
Another basket by Wade with 8:22 left in the game gave Miami a 62-61 lead and it was the first advantage for the Heat since early in the second quarter.
Artest's dunk moments later put the Pacers ahead 64-62 and was just the second field goal in Indiana's last 19 attempts. The teams then went back- and-forth over the next several minutes, before Tinsley's basket with 2:54 left put the Pacers in front 69-66.
Tinsley's layup just over 30 seconds later gave Indiana a 71-67 advantage and after a series of Miami misses, the Pacers took over with around 1:20 remaining, but had the ball stripped.
On the ensuing Heat possession, Caron Butler's dunk attempt was blocked by O'Neal, but the All-Star forward was injured on the play. After staying down for a couple of minutes, he was forced to briefly leave the game.
Indiana took over, but Artest missed a layup with 52 seconds left and Wade then trimmed the margin to 71-69 with a spin move in the lane. The Pacers then ran the clock down, but as Tinsley drove the lane, he had the ball knocked off his knee and Miami regained possession with 26.1 seconds left.
Eddie Jones missed a jumper with 18 seconds left and after the ball bounced off the top of the backboard, Wade grabbed it and tried to save it. However, he stepped on the end line before calling timeout, giving it back to Indiana.
Anthony Johnson was quickly fouled with 14.7 seconds remaining and the reserve guard made two critical foul shots and the advantage rose to 73-69. Odom was then fouled at the other end by Jeff Foster as he tried to drive and then made just 1-of-2 from the line to trim the deficit to 73-70 with 12.4 seconds left.
Artest grabbed the rebound off the missed second foul shot and was immediately fouled. However, the Defensive Player of the Year missed both shots and the Heat got possession with one last chance to tie.
Rafer Alston came down court and fired up an off-balance three-pointer that was way off the mark. Miller then grabbed the miss and threw the ball in the air as time expired.
Lamar Odom chipped in 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Heat, who hadn't lost as the host since March 2 versus Toronto.
The Pacers converted only 32 percent of their shots from the field (22-of-68), but made up for it by connecting on 26-of-33 attempts from the foul line (79 percent). Miami shot 30.5 percent from the floor (25-of-82) and was 19-of-22 from the charity stripe (86 percent), but was outrebounded 53-42.
The Heat trailed by seven points after three quarters, but came roaring back in the fourth, courtesy of a 6-0 run that was highlighted by four points from Wade to start the period.
Another basket by Wade with 8:22 left in the game gave Miami a 62-61 lead and it was the first advantage for the Heat since early in the second quarter.
Artest's dunk moments later put the Pacers ahead 64-62 and was just the second field goal in Indiana's last 19 attempts. The teams then went back- and-forth over the next several minutes, before Tinsley's basket with 2:54 left put the Pacers in front 69-66.
Tinsley's layup just over 30 seconds later gave Indiana a 71-67 advantage and after a series of Miami misses, the Pacers took over with around 1:20 remaining, but had the ball stripped.
On the ensuing Heat possession, Caron Butler's dunk attempt was blocked by O'Neal, but the All-Star forward was injured on the play. After staying down for a couple of minutes, he was forced to briefly leave the game.
Indiana took over, but Artest missed a layup with 52 seconds left and Wade then trimmed the margin to 71-69 with a spin move in the lane. The Pacers then ran the clock down, but as Tinsley drove the lane, he had the ball knocked off his knee and Miami regained possession with 26.1 seconds left.
Eddie Jones missed a jumper with 18 seconds left and after the ball bounced off the top of the backboard, Wade grabbed it and tried to save it. However, he stepped on the end line before calling timeout, giving it back to Indiana.
Anthony Johnson was quickly fouled with 14.7 seconds remaining and the reserve guard made two critical foul shots and the advantage rose to 73-69. Odom was then fouled at the other end by Jeff Foster as he tried to drive and then made just 1-of-2 from the line to trim the deficit to 73-70 with 12.4 seconds left.
Artest grabbed the rebound off the missed second foul shot and was immediately fouled. However, the Defensive Player of the Year missed both shots and the Heat got possession with one last chance to tie.
Rafer Alston came down court and fired up an off-balance three-pointer that was way off the mark. Miller then grabbed the miss and threw the ball in the air as time expired.
Bureau Report