LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla AKA The BUBBLE — It’s something about the second quarter that the Indiana Pacers seem to be allergic to in the bubble. Once again they got run out of the gym in the second period giving up 40 points and going down 20 against the Heat just before the break in Game 3. They gave up 74 points in the first half.
A valiant effort in the second half still wasn’t enough as the Miami Heat takes a commanding 3-0 lead with a 124-115 win.
After only being down 7 points after the first quarter. The wheels fell off for the Pacers as they gave up 11 3-pointers in the first half. Miami was firing on all cylinders and it looked like it over before a boy could bite into his hit dog good.
However, Indiana came out of the break with renewed energy going on a 12-2 run to start the third quarter. They were playing lights out defense and causing the Heat all kinds of problems. They finished the quarter on a 10-2 run.
It was all Pacers in the second half but it was too little too late. The leadership of Jimmy Butler who finished with 27 points getting to the free throw line 20 times and knocking down 17 of them was too much to over come. Goran Dragic finished with 24 points and Bam Adebayo had 22.
Indiana was led by Malcolm Brogdon’s 34 points followed by TJ Warren’s 23. Myles Turner dropped off a solid 15 points and 12 rebounds for the night as Victor Oladipo had 20.
Despite the valiant effort in the second half the Pacers find themselves down 3-0 and unfortunately there is no coming out of that deficit to win the series. Well…at least not in the NBA if history says the same.
Up next Game 4 on Monday.
