Lebron’s buzzer beater lifts Heat past Pacers in overtime
MIAMI — LeBron James caught the in-bounds pass, changed direction and immediately attacked the rim.
There was no one in his way.
There was no stopping him, either.
James made a layup as time expired in overtime, capping a 30-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist effort as the Miami Heat found a way to outlast the Indiana Pacers 103-102 in a wildly back-and-forth Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final Wednesday night. There were 18 ties and 17 lead changes, the last two of those coming in the last 2.2 seconds.
“Two teams fought hard,” James said. “We were able to make one more play.”
If this is how this series is going to go, then get ready for a classic between teams that absolutely wanted to face the other with a trip to the NBA final on the line.
Paul George saved the Pacers at the end of regulation with a 32-footer with 0.7 seconds left, and then made three free throws with 2.2 ticks left in overtime to give Indiana a onepoint lead. George pumped his fist gently after the third free throw, then extended his index finger skyward as the teams retreated to their benches to get ready for the final play.
He just left James too much time, and the Pacers left their best shot-blocking option on the bench. Roy Hibbert wasn’t on the floor for the final play and without a seven-foot-two barrier to contest him, James made the winner look easy.
“Two great teams just throwing punch for punch,” said Indiana coach Frank Vogel. “Our spirit is very high, very confident. We know we can play with this basketball team.”
Vogel said he left Hibbert off the floor for the final play out of concern of what defending champion Miami would do with Chris Bosh in that scenario. Afterward, he acknowledged he might have different thinking next time.
“I would say we would probably have him in next time,” Vogel said.
Game 2 is Friday night in Miami.
Officials reviewed James’s play at the end, though it was clear he beat the clock, and the Pacers walked slowly toward their locker-room, lamenting one that got away — by no fault of George’s.
“Welcome to the Eastern Conference finals,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. “Back and forth the whole way.”
Wade scored 19 points, Bosh had 17 and Chris Andersen had 16 on 7-for-7 shooting for Miami.
George scored 27 for the Pacers.