LeBron James scored 36 points for the Miami Heat, but could not give the Heat a win in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Miami fell to the Indiana Pacers 97-93, ending the game on a 13-5 run.
"We just didn't finish the game like we're capable of," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after the game.
Twice in the final minute Miami had a chance to tie the game down two points, but in both possessions Indiana forward David West deflected passes from the hands of James that turned into steals.
"Nothing broke down," Dwyane Wade said. "He's going to be hard on himself. He saw guys open, but West was able to get his arms out there at the last moment."
James added eight rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Chris Bosh scored 17 points, and Wade scored 14.
Roy Hibbert led Indiana with 29 points and 10 rebounds. Paul George scored 22 and West scored 13. George Hill scored 18 points, including two free throws with 8.3 seconds left to ice the game.
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Miami trailed for almost the entire first half, shooting 44% and committing 9 turnovers while allowing Indiana to shoot 55%.
The Heat began to take control at the end of the third quarter, which closed with an incredible sequence. With 5.1 seconds left, George maneuvered around James in the lane and finished a highlight-reel dunk over Miami's Chris Andersen while getting fouled. He made the free throw, but then James launched on a three-pointer from 29 feet away to close the quarter
He and George slapped each other's hand after the buzzer in acknowledgement. It was the beginning of a streak in which James scored Miami's next eight points, and 10 of the Heat's 14, to help give Miami a 88-84 lead with 6 minutes remaining.
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But the Heat could do little offensively through the remainder of regulation, giving the Pacers just enough time to come back.
The Heat struggled from the charity stripe for the second straight game, shooting 18 of 26 on free throws. The Heat only got to the free throw line 3 times in the second half, settling for countless outside jumpers.
Shane Battier and Ray Allen continued their cold streaks, combining to shoot 2 for 8, and 0 for 4 on 3-pointers. Miami's bench combined to shoot 6 of 18.
Game 3 is on Sunday night in Indianapolis, where the Pacers have gone 6-0 this postseason.
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