Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Heat defeat Pacers in Indiana in Emirates Cup Group Play

The quest for the Emirates Cup continued in a winning effort for the visitors, 124-111 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse versus the Pacers. Bam Adebayo returned to All-Star form, leading  six other Healtes in double-figure scoring. And the team logged 123.7 points per 100 half-court plays, per Cleaning the Glass.

 

The Heat was down 26-29 at the end of the first quarter, failing on seven 3-point attempts and conceding five of 11 to the Pacers. Heat killer TJ McConnell added five points off the bench via rim attacks, too. 

 

The visitors survived the opening run, hammering the paint in the half-court plus transition. Haywood Highsmith was the leading man with eight digits from baseline cuts and fast break attacks. Herro had five points at the line as well. 

 

Then the Heat connected on five of 11 trays in the second quarter. Adebayo also set up Nikola Jović on the break and hit a mid-range jumper, helped by Duncan Robinson’s down screen. The rest of the Heatles made five of 13 shots. 

 

But Pascal Siakam countered with four of six baskets at short, medium, and long distance plus he drove into the zone to set up the outside sniper. And Tyrese Haliburton swished two triples on the catch and scored in transition to end the half. 

 

The Heat was up at halftime, 61-55. Additionally, the team had 26 paint points, 14 on the break, six via second chances, eight off turnovers and 25 from the bench.

 

The Pacers had 20 interior marks, three on the break, none on the second chances, seven off turnovers and 18 from the reserves.

 

Subsequently, Kevin Love splashed three trays plus finished three baskets in the restricted area to start the third quarter. After Herro’s fast break left-corner triple following a Myles Turners’ freebie, coach Rick Carlisle called a stoppage for his Pacers as the Heat took a 13-point lead. Then Herro set up Love at the rim on a pick-and-roll set and Terry Rozier made an 18-foot shot while the defense permitted nothing, causing Carlisle to call another timeout 53 seconds later.

 

But a 22-digit lead was sliced to 10 via three trifectas and dribble penetration.

 

Next, the Heat started the fourth quarter ahead by 13. The Pacers reinserted the starting lineup—Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin, Ben Sheppard, Siakam, and Turner—but the Heat kept pouring in long, mid and short range baskets. Adebayo devoured the coverages before him and intercepted two passes by Jarace Walker, carrying the Heat to the end line. 

 

The Heat won 124-111. The team had 44 paint points, 19 on the break, nine via second chances, 20 off turnovers and 35 from the bench. 

 

Adebayo had 30 points on 10 of 17 shots, with 11 rebounds, seven assists, five steals and two giveaways.

 

Herro dropped 20 points on 37.5% accuracy, with three rebounds, five assists and four turnovers. 

 

Love had 15 points on six of eight looks, with seven rebounds, two assists and four steals.

 

And Highsmith was immaculate from the field on six tries, registering 14 points, a rebound, an assist and a steal.

 

The Pacers had 48 interior marks, 11 in the open court, 11 on extra tries, 15 off turnovers and 54 from the reserves.

 

Obi Toppin had 21 points on 80% shooting, with three rebounds and a turnover. 

 

Haliburton put up 18 digits on seven of 14 attempts, with two rebounds, eight assists, one steal and a turnover.

 

Siakam totaled 14 points on 42.9% accuracy, with five rebounds, two assists and one turnover. 

 

And McConnell had 14 points on six of 10 looks, with three rebounds, four dimes, one steal and three turnovers. 

 

At the post-game presser, coach Erik Spoelstra said it was deflating to get on the plane to Indiana following the Heat’s loss in Detroit. Spoelstra atypically forgot the Heat didn’t have a timeout, and the Pistons won on the technical free throw on Tuesday. “We had a great day yesterday of work.”

 

In the locker room, Jović was asked if he is the Serbian Jimmy Butler. He said, “Or he’s American me?”

 

Regarding the second unit, Jović said that he, Jaime Jaquez, Robinson and Richardson are a great unit. “We can bring a lot to this team.”

 

Adebayo said he was motivated by Love’s scoring spree to pick up his game. 

 

Observations:

 

1. Highsmith had his third game of the season in double-figure scoring while providing sharp defense. Most of his offensive actions come on the catch, and he has the lowest turnover percentage of all starters for the season. 

 

2. Adebayo made one of four baskets in the first half, but was stellar in the last two frames, making nine of 13 shots. His face-up drives and rim rolls were fruitful plus the hook and jumper were falling. He also made consecutive 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. 

 

Defensively, he was impactful as the dropped pick-and-roll protector and a menace in the passing lanes, picking up four steals; his other one was a strip on Walker under the rim. On top of that, Adebayo led the team in deflections (4) for the game. 

 

The win was one of the best regular-season performances of his career.

 

3. Love’s defense was in mid-season form, producing four takeaways in the passing lanes, too. 

 

4. The Heat guarded Toppin in single coverage, but he was moving without the ball and scoring mostly on the catch at close, medium and long distances. He beat Highsmith, Kel’el Ware, Jaquez, and Herro.

 

5. Jović had another strong performance off the bench. Despite making 25% of 3-point tries, he played well off the ball and had one impressive possession, taking the ball upcourt defended by Siakam and hitting a seven-foot floater over him.

—

For more info on the Miami Heat, subscribe to Off The Floor.