INDIANAPOLIS — Bam Adebayo delivered an impressive performance, scoring 30 points and grabbing 11 rebounds as the Miami Heat secured a 124-111 victory over the Indiana Pacers during NBA Cup competition on Friday night.
In a pivotal fourth quarter, Adebayo contributed 17 points, helping the Heat pull away from the Pacers and achieve a balanced NBA Cup record of 1-1. Other notable contributors for Miami included Tyler Herro with 20 points, Kevin Love adding 15 points, and Haywood Highsmith chipping in with 14. This match marked the first of a consecutive set of games between the two teams, with a rematch scheduled for Sunday in Indianapolis.
Obi Toppin was the standout player for the Pacers, scoring 21 points off the bench. Tyrese Haliburton supported with 18 points and provided eight assists. This game represented the first encounter of the NBA Cup for Indiana after their appearance in last year’s finals.
Observations:
For the Heat, a win was essential following a disappointing overtime defeat earlier in the week. Coach Erik Spoelstra had faced criticism after mistakenly calling a timeout that Miami didn’t have, leading to a crucial technical foul that played a role in their loss to the Pistons.
On the other hand, Indiana’s defense has been inconsistent, often allowing opponents open three-point opportunities and easy baskets at the rim. While the Pacers possess the scoring power to compete with any team, the challenge remains for them to establish a more effective defensive strategy.
A significant moment in the game occurred when Kevin Love scored the Heat’s first 13 points of the second half, enabling Miami to build a lead of 13 points, which swelled to 22 during the third quarter. Notably, Love had only scored a total of nine points in his previous two games this season.
A key statistic from the game highlights the Heat’s advantage in free throw attempts, where they made 19 out of 23, compared to the Pacers’ 9 out of 11, giving Miami a 10-point edge in that category.
Looking ahead, the Miami Heat are set to face the Indiana Pacers again on Sunday.