Latest update April 11th, 2025 9:20 AM
LeBron James explodes as Heat rout Pacers in Game 5
MIAMI — You could sense the LeBron James power surge coming in South Florida.
As soon as the Miami Heat MVP fouled out at the end of the Indiana Pacers’ Game 4 victory, you could feel him planning to unleash the full extent of his talents the next time out.
Indiana Pacers shooting guard Lance Stephenson (1) drives against Miami Heat power forward Chris Andersen (11) and center Chris Bosh (1). Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports.
James delivered a masterful performance — his brilliance in the third quarter overwhelmed the Pacers — and Miami defeated Indiana 90-79 in Game 5 on Thursday. James had 30 points, eight rebounds , six assists, two steals and one block and gave the Heat a 3-2 series lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
In the decisive third quarter, James had 16 points, four rebounds, four assists and accounted for 25 of Miami’s points in a 30-13 quarter.
In a back-and-forth series in which each team has made the right adjustments after a loss, Miami responded successfully to their Game 4 deficiencies with improved defense, better offense — strong three-point shooting — a commitment to rebounding and a determined James.
Now the defending champions are one win from third consecutive appearance in the NBA Finals, and the young Pacers face a mountainous task: win consecutive games, which no team has done yet in the series, and do it against a team that hasn’t lost two consecutive games since January.
Game 6 is today in Indianapolis (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT).
Miami rolled out its fast and furious offense in the final six minutes of the third quarter. Indiana led 51-49 midway through the third quarter, but the Heat outscored the Pacers 21-16 in the final 6:04. James scored 12 of those points, including a three-pointer with 16.1 seconds left in the third, giving Miami a 70-56 lead. Several times throughout the series, Vogel has said it is near-impossible to defend James.
The game turned into James against Pacers forwards Paul George and David West and center Roy Hibbert. George and Hibbert scored Indiana’s first 29 points and at one point in the third quarter, George, Hibbert and West combined for 49 of Indiana’s 55 points.
Ultimately, James had more help, but not from the other two-thirds of the Big 3, as guard Dwyane Wade (10 points) and forward Chris Bosh (seven points) were limited.
Heat forward Udonis Haslem, the second star in Game 3, had 16 points, and Mario Chalmers followed up a fine Game 4 with 12 points and six assists. Haslem made 8-for-9 shots, and after his 8-for-9 effort in Game 3, Vogel said it would be a long series if Haslem continued to make shots at that rate. Haslem made four shots from the left baseline and four shots at the rim.
Indiana’s guards were unproductive. Starters George Hill and Lance Stephenson and backup D.J. Augustin were 2-for-13 from the field and combined for five points. George finished with 27 points, Hibbert had 22 and West had 17.
This testy, physical series — Pacers players have accused Shane Battier of playing dirty — turned more intense when Chris “Birdman” Andersen shoved Indiana’s Tyler Hansbrough with 9:02 left in the second quarter. Referees called Andersen for a flagrant foul one and a double technical foul on both.
Referee Marc Davis had to restrain and push Andersen back toward Miami’s bench. The NBA will review the incident — as it does on all such plays — and could upgrade Andersen to a flagrant foul two. But that does not mean an automatic suspension for Game 6.
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