There wasn’t much worth salvaging in the first of two regular season bubble matchups between the Indiana Pacers and the Miami Heat, which may be a problem for Indiana should these teams wind up facing each other in the first round of the playoffs. The Pacers didn’t appear to have any real answer for Miami’s activity on defense, nor their ability to hit threes, especially in the second half.
Indiana stumbled out of the gate, but were able to stay within striking distance thanks in part to a slow start from the Heat. Their (in particular Jimmy Butler’s) ability to get to the line allowed Miami to hold a 21-9 lead late in the first, allowing the Indiana second unit to climb back into it, cutting the lead to within four at 23-19.