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| Source: http://cnsnews.com/news/article/heat-rally-late-beat-pacers-99-87-game-3 |
David West started strong for the Pacers in the first half which gave them a 42-38 lead heading into the locker room. Meanwhile, Coach Spoelstra of the Miami Heat tried to wake the team up and said, "Impose our identity". Heat's two best players Lebron James and Dwayne Wade eventually led the way for the team to get back on track again and James' dunk with 7:36 remaining in the third put Miami up for the first time, 52-51. Since then, both teams are already exchanging shots and had several lead changes.
Lebron James, four-time MVP even suffered with what appeared to be a hamstring cramp seconds left on the third quarter but Dwayne Wade who was brought in for Lebron responded with a 3-pointer and gave the Heat a 74-67 lead going into the fourth.
It suddenly became a totally different story in the fourth quarter when Wade opened it up with another three and Ray Allen, the best three point shooter in NBA history fired up and hit 4 three-pointers (4-4 FG) in that quarter alone. Lebron didn't started the fourth quarter but came back on the eight-minute mark of the quarter after supposedly heading into the locker room but eventually stopped on hallway to be stretched by the team's trainer.
Lebron James scored 26 points and Dwayne Wade added 23 as the Miami Heat survived yet another slow-starting game for the team against the best team on the road, the Indiana Pacers. Ray Allen saved the best for last, added 16 points and led the late run for Heat.
Game 4 is on Tuesday (Philippine time) still on Miami's court and Paul George and the Indiana Pacers have to figure things out if they want to even the series and go back to Indiana.