NBA: Pacers grind out win over Heat

FILE – Buddy Hield #24 of the Indiana Pacers celebrates a three-pointer against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at the United Center on October 26, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. Michael Reaves/Getty Images/AFP

Buddy Hield tied his season high with 25 points, leading the Indiana Pacers to a 101-99 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night in Indianapolis.

Miami’s Tyler Herro, who had a game-high 29 points, missed a potentially game-winning 3-pointer on the front edge at the buzzer.

Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton had a near triple-double with 22 points, nine assists and nine rebounds. Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana’s rookie first-round pick, added 23 points off the bench, going 10-for-12 from the foul line.

Miami, which was without leading scorer Jimmy Butler for a second straight game with left hip pain, also picked up 18 points and 10 rebounds from Bam Adebayo. Max Strus added 17 points, Gabe Vincent 15 and Kyle Lowry 10.

The first quarter featured seven lead changes and six draws before Miami emerged with a 29-28 lead.

Indiana used a 10-0 run midway through the second quarter, taking a 45-38 lead with 6:27 remaining. Later in the period, the Pacers went 14-0 for a 59-43 lead with 2:32 to go.

At halftime, the Pacers led 62-50 behind Hield’s 22-on-9 points for 12 total shooting, 4-for-7 on 3-pointers. Mathurin added 14 points, including 9 of 10 on the free throw.

Buddy has buckets tonight.

25 PTS
9 RECs
2 STLs@buddyhield | #BoomBaby pic.twitter.com/lcJhd8FXuw

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) November 5, 2022

Herro led Miami with 14 points in the first half, but the Heat shot 34.9% from the floor, making just 5 of 24 3-pointers (20.8%). Indiana shot 50 percent from the floor.

Miami held Hield scoreless in the third as the Heat cut their deficit to 80-77. Herro had 10 points in the quarter.

With 5:35 to go in the fourth, Vincent’s 3-pointer allowed Miami to tie the game, 94-94.

But Hield, after missing his first five shots in the second half, made a 3-pointer with 3:22 left to give Indiana a 97-94 lead. Indiana never hung around again.

With 10.1 seconds left, a Strus layup was ruled goalkeeper. However, the call was overturned after review, and it was a valid block by Myles Turner. Miami got the ball back and Herro made two free throws to cut the Heat’s deficit to 100-99 with 8.4 seconds left.

Miami fouled Mathurin, who made the second of two free throws for a 101-99 lead with 7.6 seconds left. Herro, who shot 8 of 20 from the floor, then missed his final try to give Indiana the win.

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