MIAMI — Tyrese Haliburton was a standout for the Indiana Pacers, scoring 33 points while also delivering 15 assists, as the team triumphed over the Miami Heat with a score of 128-115 on Thursday night. Myles Turner contributed significantly to the Pacers’ victory with 21 points, while Pascal Siakam added 18 points along with 11 rebounds. The Pacers showcased their shooting prowess, finishing the game with an impressive 53% success rate from the field and extending their lead to as much as 28 points during the match.
For the Heat, Kel’el Ware led with 25 points, supported by Bam Adebayo, who recorded 20 points. Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier chipped in with 17 and 16 points, respectively. Meanwhile, Jimmy Butler had a quiet night with only nine points and, for the second night in a row, did not play in the fourth quarter. He had also scored nine points in their previous game against New Orleans.
Some noteworthy statistics from the game include the Pacers’ ability to sink 17 three-pointers. This season, they have a record of 8-2 when hitting at least 15 threes, but they are only 5-10 when they make 12 or fewer. On another note, Thursday marked the 25th anniversary of the Heat’s first game in what is now known as the Kaseya Center. The Heat claimed a victory over the Orlando Magic on January 2, 2000, with a score of 111-103, and boast a remarkable 736-395 record in that arena, including 86-36 during playoff matches.
A crucial moment came early in the third quarter when Miami was down by 14 points. The Pacers quickly shifted the momentum with a three-point play from Turner followed by a three-pointer from Siakam, propelling them to a commanding 78-58 lead with 8:08 remaining in the quarter.
Haliburton’s performance in the first quarter was particularly striking, as he netted 16 points and tallied five assists. This marked the third time in his career that he has accomplished that feat in a single quarter, previously achieving similar numbers in different games against Charlotte and San Antonio. Interestingly enough, the Pacers lost both of those encounters.
Looking ahead, both teams will be back at home on Saturday night, with the Pacers set to host the Phoenix Suns and the Heat preparing to face off against the Utah Jazz.
