By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Slovenian guard Goran Dragic with 20 points and six assists led the charge, Jimmy Butler scored 18 points and Duncan Robinson scored 24 points on 7/8 threes as the Miami Heat beat the Indiana Pacers (109-100) and got a 2-0 advantage in the first round matchup of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The backcourt of the Heat was on fire, shooting in total 51% in threes and despite the return of Victor Oladipo who scored 22 points, the Pacers were trailing throughout the second half mostly by double-digits.
The Heat led 51-46 at halftime, then used an 11-2 run for their biggest lead of the game at 79-63 on a 3-pointer by Crowder with 4:51 left in the third. Indiana couldn’t get closer than eight in the fourth.
Lithuanian big man Domantas Sabonis missed one more game for the losing side, but that doesn’t change the fact that Miami has veteran leaders in Dragic and Butler who can make big plays when needed and also a young core that so far delivers in the playoffs.