Indiana Beats Miami, Increases Lead in Race for Top Playoff Seed in NBA East

The two top teams in the NBA Eastern Conference squared off against each other on March 26th as the Indiana Pacers hosted the Miami Heat.  The Pacers went into the game with a two game lead over the heat for the top playoff seed in the Eastern Conference with about three weeks left in the regular season, so this was a key game for both teams.

It was a physical, bruising affair complete with pre game trash talk, flying elbows, technical fouls, blood stained jerseys, and a player ejection.  When the smoke cleared, the Pacers had rallied for an 84-83 come from behind victory, and a three game lead over the heat.

After the game, Miami’s LeBron James, who led all scorers with 38 points, and teammate Chris Bosh criticized the officiating.  James felt some of the fouls should have been called as flagrant fouls, adding that “people are going to get hurt” with the type of play that occurred in the game. The Pacers and Heat meet once more this season, in Miami on April 11th.  That should be interesting.