Miami Heat Visit Indiana Pacers: Game 30 Preview

Tonight, the Miami Heat visit the Indiana Pacers at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. This is the second of four games this season between the Pacers and the Heat, and the first of two in Indiana. Miami is in the fifth game of a six game road tilt, and on the third night of a back-to-back-to-back. They lost the first game to the Orlando Magic, 102-89 before beating the Washington Wizards, 106-89, the Atlanta Hawks, 107-87, and the Milwaukee Bucks, 114-96 last night. They go on to finish up against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday. Indiana is finishing up a short two game homestand. They lost to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, 113-109 and go on the road against the Cavaliers tomorrow. Miami is 10-5 on the road, while Indiana is 7-3 at home.

The teams last faced each other on January 4th in Miami, with the Heat outscoring the Pacers, 33-12 in the second quarter on their way to a 118-83 trouncing. LeBron James narrowly missed a triple double, scoring 33 points with eight rebounds and 13 assists while Dwyane Wade sat with an injury. Chris Bosh scored 22 with six rebounds while James Jones scored 14, including 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. Roy Hibbert led Indiana with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Said Bosh, regarding covering down for an injured player, according to NBA.COM,

"We just wanted to go out and do our job. We wanted to do a better job defensively. It's about time for us to start sticking more to our principles and holding each other accountable. We just really wanted to focus on that and when we get stops, and just get out in the open court and play the same game we've been playing and not slow down because one guy's (Wade) out."

04/01/2012 Indiana Pacers Vs Miami Heat Highlights Game Recap - NBA CIRCLE (via NBACIRCLE)

Miami handily defeated the Milwaukee Bucks last night at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, 114-96. LeBron James shot 16-of-21 from the field, scoring 35 and grabbing eight rebounds to lead the Heat. Dwyane Wade scored 22 with five rebounds and four assists. Carlos Delfino scored 24 points to lead the Bucks in a losing effort. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, on hustle, according to NBA.COM,

"At the start of the game we lost the first three or four skirmishes (for loose balls) but from that point on we really made a commitment to get into this fight. No one could spectate. We had to get our hands dirty, which we didn't do in the first two games. But it was a good sign that we did it this way against a very physical team."

Indiana lost a home game to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, 113-109. Ty Lawson led five Denver players in double digits with 27 points. Danny Granger paced Indiana with 26, while Delonte West had 22 points and seven rebounds. Pacers center, Roy Hibbert on the loss, according to NBA.COM,

"We must bond and come back tougher and smarter and play to win and not to lose. We know what we're made of so we know we can do it."

Denver Nuggets Vs Indiana Pacers 2-11-12 Highlights (via nbahighlights9999)

Standings

Miami: 22-7, first in the Southeast Division, second in the Eastern Conference, third in the NBA, on pace for 50-16. Last five: W-L-W-W-W

Indiana: 17-10, second in the Central Division, fifth in the Eastern Conference, eighth in the NBA, on pace for 42-24. Last five: L-W-L-L-L