Pacers Look To Knot Series

The Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat will continue to do battle Monday as the teams meet in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Leading the series 2-1, the Miami Heat hosts the Indiana Pacers on Monday in Game 4 of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals.

Tip-off at American Airlines Arena is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET.

Miami moved within two games of a fourth consecutive NBA Finals appearance on Saturday night, defeating the Pacers 99-87 as the series switched to South Florida.

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade once again steered the Heat to victory, combining for 49 points. It was Ray Allen that made the headlines though, knocking down four three-pointers in the fourth quarter to help the Heat earn another come-from-behind victory.

The Heat as a team shot 10-of-18 (55.6%) from beyond the arc, a statistic that proved crucial in recording a second straight win.

The Pacers were led by Paul George, who scored 17 points after suffering a concussion in Game 2. Roy Hibbert added 16 points, but only managed two rebounds. The center had pulled down eight offensive boards in Game 2.

Lance Stephenson continued his solid contract year play, tallying 10 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three steals. Not one to shun controversy and limelight, Stephenson fought a war of words with James throughout the game, later telling reporters that James’ retaliation was a “sign of weakness”. That’s the sort of comment that could light a fire under the four-time league MVP.

Saturday’s result now places the onus firmly on Indiana. While some are saying Monday’s Game 4 isn’t quite a must-win game for the Pacers, it really is.

Frank Vogel and the Pacers will not want to leave South Beach down 3-1: that will simply be too big a mountain to climb, particularly as the Heat hasn’t lost back-to-back postseason games since the 2012 NBA Finals.

Having held comfortable leads in each of the last two games, Indiana will need to somehow find a way to avoid feeling regret, instead finding a way to refocus and somehow pull out a road victory and return home to Indiana with the series knotted at 2-2. That’s easier said than done though.

Miami would prefer to wrap the series up as quickly as possible. A win on Monday would make a huge statement in that the Pacers had been built up as such a threat in the Eastern Conference this season. The chance to close the series out in Indiana on Wednesday comes with a whole heap of spoils, including a long rest before the NBA Finals and, of course, bragging rights.

But if we’ve learned anything from recent meetings between the sides, nothing comes easy and neither team goes down without a fight.

Indiana Pacers vs. Miami Heat odds for 05/26/2014

Following back-to-back wins, Miami (-300) opened as the favorite over Indiana (+264) on the moneyline.

Miami is now 6-0 at home this postseason, while Indiana is 5-2 on the road. Miami has won five straight against the Pacers at home.

After Saturday night’s victory, the Heat is now 8-3 in playoffs games against the Pacers when playing at home. Miami has been victorious in two of the three Game 4 matchups the two sides have played in the past.

The spread opened at 7 and has slipped to 6.5 with most sportsbooks.

Miami (8-4-0 ATS) has covered the spread in the past two games. Indiana (7-9-0 ATS) has covered the spread just once in its last five head-to-head meetings with the Heat, and just once in its last five visits to American Airlines Arena.

The total opened at 183.5.

The over paid out in Saturday’s Game 5 for the second time this series. The total has gone over in four of the last six head-to-head meetings between the two sides as well as seven of the last nine the two have played in South Florida.

The best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals will return to Indiana on Wednesday for Game 5, with tip-off at Bankers Life Fieldhouse scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET.

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