Here are my running thoughts from the Pacers’ 120-95 win over the Miami Heat Sunday at AmericanAirlines Arena.
- The home team has been dominant in this series. The Pacers have won the last 10 in Indy, and lost six straight in Miami.
- Ike Anigbogu is not with the team; he was assigned to the Mad Ants of the G League and had 13 points and seven rebounds in his debut Saturday night.
- Glenn Robinson III, who is rehabbing from left ankle surgery, traveled with the team to Miami and watched the game in the locker room – per FSI’s Jeremiah Johnson.
- Pacers wearing their white (Association) uniforms so the Heat can wear their special black uniforms on Sunday.
- Didn’t take long for Myles Turner, who was the lone player with an off game in Friday’s win, a 22-point comeback over Detroit. He was just 3 for 13 with seven points. He scored the team’s first four points and made 9 of 10 shots in the first half.
- It took 14 game minutes for the Pacers to connect on their first 3-pointer, but Bojan Bogdanovic did it. They missed their first six tries while the Heat were 6 for 14 (+18).
- Dion Waiters whistled for a technical foul with 6:40 left in the half. Victor Oladipo made the free throw.
- Speaking of Waiters, enjoy this double spin – which resulted in a lay in for Hassan Whiteside.
- Amazing finish by Darren Collison late in the second. He drove the left side of the lane and did a reverse layup – left to right – to avoid getting blocked by Whiteside. Savvy finish.
- Strong finish to the half, shooting 55 percent. Turner nailed a 3-pointer for 20 first-half points; then, Thad Young got the steal and hit a jumper to give them a 58-55 lead. Five points in the final 3.1 seconds.
- The Pacers’ lead ballooned to 18 as they started the third period on a 19-4 run, including 12 straight, forcing several Miami timeouts. Bogdanovic had 11 points in the quarter.
- Pacers outscored the Heat 32-13 in the third to take a 22-point lead into the fourth! Wow.
- Best game of the season for Turner and it started in the game’s first minute. He had 25 points, on 11-of-13 shooting, through three quarters – plus seven rebounds and three blocks.
- We got a smothered chicken from Pacers TV analyst Quinn Buckner – see below – as Turner rejected his fourth shot of the game.
- Nate McMillan emptied his bench for the final three minutes with a 26-point advantage.
- Season highs for Bogdanovic (26) and Turner (25).
- Turner met with actor Matthew McConaughey, a big UT supporter, after the win. (See below).
- Pacers, getting their third straight win on the road, are over .500 (9-8) for the first time since Nov. 3.
- Up next: Pacers play in Orlando against Frank Vogel’s Magic Monday night. Oladipo spent his first three seasons in Orlando. The Magic are 8-8 but have lost four in a row, including a 40-point home loss Saturday to Utah.
- It will be their first meeting of the season. The Pacers swept the season series last year, so Vogel has yet to defeat his former team.
Myles Turner connects with Matthew McConaughey for the first time 🤘 @TexasMBB pic.twitter.com/EAFLpZcf9P
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) November 20, 2017
🚨 #SmotheredChicken 🚨
from Myles Turner pic.twitter.com/RS1ssWRFPS— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) November 20, 2017
Just keep spinning. Just keep spinning.#HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/G4IJUyO6qI
— NBA (@NBA) November 19, 2017
Vic makes it look easy.(Ignore the fact that it was after a whistle.) pic.twitter.com/tL3yOX1Zk0
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) November 19, 2017
[Photo: Frank McGrath/PS&E]