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Pacers vs. Heat Game 1, NBA Playoffs 2013: LeBron James stuns Indy with OT game-winner as Heat prevail, 103-102

2013-05-23T04:05:18Z

LeBron James knifed his way through the lane on an inbound play with 2.2 seconds remaining in overtime and made an easy layup as time expired to stun the Indiana Pacers, 103-102, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday night at American Airlines arena.

For more Pacers coverage, visit Indy Cornrows | If it's the Heat you fancy, check out Hot Hot Hoops

After a wild sequence that included a turnover by each team and the Pacers down by two, Dwyane Wade fouled Paul George on a desperation three point attempt with 2.2 seconds left in the extra frame to put Miami in the improbable position.

George did double damage at the 2:10 mark in the extra frame, drawing James' fifth foul and giving the Pacers a 99-96 lead in the process after converting the free throw. Chris Bosh answered with a three-point play of his own at the 49.7 mark to tie things up at 99 apiece.

As wild as the overtime period was, the fourth quarter had just as much drama.

George's three-pointer with 0.7 seconds remaining sent the game into overtime and atoned for his critical mistake late in regulation.

On the previous sequence, George turned the ball over with 20 seconds remaining as he threw the ball away into the corner as Indiana was down by two. It was an ironic twist at the end of a game marred by agonizing giveaways from both squads. On the next play, Indiana was forced to foul Ray Allen, who incredibly missed 1 of 2 free throws to give the Pacers a shot at tying the game.

The game-tyer:

James led the way for the Heat with 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Wade came alive in the second half in typical fashion to finish with 19 points after a quiet first half. Miami survied a dismal shooting night from the free throw line, where they shot just 64 percent as a group.

George's team-high 27 points and incredible defense on James was overshadowed by the Heat win. He added five assists and four rebounds but committed six turnovers. The Pacers got an outstanding performance from David West, who embraced the physical nature of the game to score 26 points while adding five rebounds.

Chris Anderson was instrumental in giving the Heat a big lift in the fourth quarter, where he scored many of his 16 points and added five rebounds and three blocked shots. He made several plays down the stretch that snatched the momentum back from the resilient visitors and put Miami back in control on their home floor, allowing them to send the game into overtime.

Turnovers were the story of the first half as both teams notched double-digit giveaways in the first 24 minutes. The Heat committed 13 while the Pacers totaled 12. The Pacers went into the locker room at the break ahead, 42-37, largely due to the fact that they were able to convert 11 points against the Heat's six off those mistakes. James struggled to record a basket in the second quarter and finished with nine points.

In the third, Miami stormed back into the game behind a resurgent quarter from James. He regularly got to the hoop and forced the Pacers defense to get out of position, totaling nine to bring his point total through three quarters of play to 18. Indiana turned the ball over five times and allowed eight points by the Heat. Getting them going in transition was a dangerous development for the Pacers.

The fourth quarter was the manifestation of solid adjustments from both teams. The turnovers were minimized and both teams played sound defense and made the other squad work for everything. The crescendo of it all ended with the George sequence of a turnover and subsequent heroic shot to provide extra basketball in opening game of the series.

Physicality was another major factor in how the game played out. There were a combined 58 fouls, and several players played significant minutes with foul trouble late, including James, who had five through half of the fourth quarter and all of overtime, which opened up the floor for Indiana.

Miami overcame a rough night from the three-point line, where they went 5 of 18 by shooting a respectable 47.7 percent from the field. Indiana put up similar numbers in that respect, finishing at 44.6 percent from the field and just 28.6 percent from deep.

Pacers head coach Frank Vogel will likely answer a lot of questions about his late-game decision to pull Roy Hibbert in the wake of James' easy look on the game-winner.

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Pacers vs. Heat score update, Game 1: David West star in ugly 1st half as Indy leads, 42-37

2013-05-23T01:51:53Z

David West is embracing the physical, sloppy nature of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals and has the Indiana Pacers ahead of the defending champion Miami Heat, 42-37, on Wednesday night at American Airlines Arena.

Pacers fans should check out Indy Cornrows | Heat faithful should head over to Hot Hot Hoops

Turnovers were the story of the first 24 minutes of the game as both teams combined for 25 giveaways, which was the catalyst for the low-scoring output.

West scored 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting while taking advantage of the Heat's lack of size inside, but finished the second quarter on the bench with three fouls. Roy Hibbert added 11 points to accentuate that issue, shooting 5 of 10.

LeBron James started off hot in the first quarter, but was held scoreless in the second as Paul George played stellar defense on him to end the half. James finished with four assists, and Dwyane Wade scored six points on 3-of-5 shooting.

The first quarter featured James and West having their way with the opposing defense before both teams got stagnant on offense. For the 2013 reigning NBA MVP, a 4-of-6 shooting performance from the field in the first 12 minutes got him going early as he finished with nine points. West answered to lead all scorers with 10 on a similarly efficient 4-of-5 shooting.

Both squads shot the ball well and topped the 50 percent mark in the first frame. Turnovers, accentuated by physical play, kept the score low as Indiana committed seven turnovers while Miami totaled six.

SB Nation's own Kevin Zimmerman broke down three key questions before the big game. Let's revisit them:

Will small ball work?

The Heat are all about transition and struggle to rebound, so they will have to attack the Pacers' stout defense by upping the temp and getting easy baskets. Their ability to do so will dictate a lot of the momentum in this series. Thus far, the lack of size is hurting them on the glass as the Heat are getting outrebounded, 19-12.

Normally, the transition game is the Heat's saving grace when they struggle to gain extra possessions off missed shots, but through two quarters of play, they've been suckered in to playing Indiana's game. More on that in question No. 2 in a moment.

For now, the physical play seems to have the Heat flustered, to a degree, and in position to have the game stolen from them. West and Hibbert have taken advantage of the deficiencies inside to score a combined 29 points.

How does Indiana slow the pace?

Despite turning the ball over too many times, the Pacers are putting together a solid effort on the defensive end and frustrating Miami enough that they haven't had their way in the open court. The Heat have just two fast break points through the first half, which is a great sign for Indiana.

Who wins the backcourt battle?

So far, Miami is winning the battle as Wade and Mario Chalmers are outscoring Lance Stephenson and George Hill. Both backcourts have combined to commit nine turnovers to contribute to the sloppiness of the first half.

Can they clean it up in the second?

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NBA Playoffs 2013, Grizzlies vs. Spurs Game 2: San Antonio not worried about near-collapse

2013-05-22T13:30:05Z

The Memphis Grizzlies gave the San Antonio Spurs all they could handle on Tuesday night with a 15-2 run to end regulation and send the game into overtime as the Spurs notched the win, 93-89.

More: Grizzlies fans should visit Grizzly Bear Blues | Spurs fans should head over to Pounding the Rock

But do the way things played out mean anything in terms of a shift in the series dynamic?

The Spurs did what they were supposed to do and held home court; they will now take a 2-0 series lead into Memphis and can afford a lapse.

Whether or not they have any wiggle room is the biggest question following a major scare. They were poised to cruise to a win in Game 2 and crush the Grizzlies' spirits en route to a blowout win. But just when things looked bleakest, Memphis showed that victories won't come easy on either surface

Is anyone in San Antonio panicking?

"They made a run, and we got ourselves in a pretty decent position" said Tim Duncan matter-of-factly after the game. "We played well for three quarters. I hate that we gave up that big of a lead in that situation, but we were resilient enough to go to overtime and not let it affect us."

Head coach Gregg Popovich was more candid in his response to the disappearing 18-point deficit.

"Sometimes your worst nightmare is a big lead," he said. "It's tough to keep leads often times. [Tuesday] we weren't able to do it. They're a heck of a basketball team, they're not going to give in."

The Spurs have first-hand experience that can attest to the fact that no series lead is safe. Last season, they lost a series to the Oklahoma City Thunder after taking a 2-0 lead. Similarly, Memphis came back from an 0-2 deficit that same postseason to overcome the Los Angeles Clippers.

There's no room for anyone to get comfortable, but the Grizzlies have every reason to head into Game 3 with plenty of confidence.

"This is what we've looked like all year long if you've seen us play," said Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins. "I'm proud of my group and how we competed and how kept fighting. And we're in the same boat we were when we left L.A."

(All quotes via NBA live streaming)

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NBA Playoffs 2013, Grizzlies vs. Spurs Game 2: San Antonio survives wild finish to prevail, 93-89

2013-05-22T04:20:26Z

Jerryd Bayless' tough three-pointer from the wing fell woefully off line as the San Antonio Spurs staved off a furious comeback attempt by the Memphis Grizzlies and prevailed on Tuesday night, 93-89, to take a commanding 2-0 series lead in the Western Conference Finals.

For more on Grizzlies, check out Grizzly Bear Blues | Spurs fans should head over to Pounding the Rock

Missing 1-of-2 free throws was the only thing Tony Parker did wrong all night long, as it gave Memphis life in the waning seconds of overtime, but San Antonio made key stops and found a way to win.

After making a key block on Marc Gasol on the defensive end in overtime, Tim Duncan hit a jumper in the lane that hit every part of the rim and backboard before falling in to give the Spurs a four-point lead with 1:08 remaining. On the next sequence, the Grizzlies grabbed three offensive rebounds before Bayless hit a jumper at the top of the key to cut the lead to two with 16.9 seconds remaining in the extra frame.

That was nothing compared to the drama to end regulation, however.

A controversial play involving Tony Allen and Manu Ginobili allowed the Memphis Grizzlies to complete an improbable comeback and take things into overtime. Ginobili committed a questionably-called flagrant foul on Allen, who brought the game to within two after converting two free-throw attempts. Memphis then got the ball back afterward by rule.

On the next play, Mike Conley made a floater in the lane with 18.2 seconds remaining to tie the game at 85 apiece, thus capping a 15-2 Grizzlies run after San Antonio dominated most of the game. Tim Duncan had a chance to win the game but missed a tough look at the elbow as time in regulation expired.

The Grizzlies cut what was at one time a 18-point deficit to eight points on a thunderous dunk by Quincy Pondexter near the six-minute mark. He parlayed that jam into a corner three-pointer that hit nothing but net to bring the Grizzlies within five.

The Pondexter dunk is worth another look, as it was a key moment in the game:

But Ginobili answered with a drive-and-dish to Tiago Splitter that extended the lead back to seven. The Argentinian did it on both ends of the floor late in the game with a key block on Bayless shortly thereafter.

Tony Parker was the star of the game, finishing with 15 points and a career playoff-high 18 assists to lead the Spurs. Duncan added 17 points and nine rebounds, while Kawhi Leonard neared a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds.

Memphis out-shot San Antonio by 14 shots, and they outrebounded the home team by a margin of 59-46. However, the large deficit proved to be too much for them to overcome in the end.

Mike Conley and Bayless took the scoring honors for the Grizzlies and finished with 18 points apiece, while Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol added 15 and 12.

The story of the first half was the Spurs' lock down defense. They held Memphis to just 25 percent shooting through the first two frames and kept them out of the paint, forcing them into tough, contested shots and low-percentage shots. Randolph and Gasol shot a combined 3-for-15 during that span and put a lot of pressure on the perimeter players to make outside shots.

The Spurs took care of the ball early on and only committed four turnovers in the first half. Additionally, they showed balance, as each starter registered at least five points. Parker knifed his way through the normally-stingy Grizzlies' defense to free up space and record eight assists in that time frame.

It continued in the third quarter, when Parker went wild and recorded an incredible eight assists to bring his total for the game to 16, which secured a playoff career-high for him. Through three quarters, the Spurs had a collective 4:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, which manifested itself in the lopsided score at the end of 36 minutes, 76-64.

By the time the teams entered the fourth quarter, the game appeared well in hand for the Spurs, as they had secured all of the momentum. However, the Grizzlies soon cut it to within single digits and ended up winning the quarter 21-9 to knot things up at 85 to end regulation.

The Grizzlies couldn't carry their momentum into overtime, however, as the Spurs took the period 8-4, finishing off the scrappy Grizzlies team to take a imposing 2-0 series lead as the series shifts to Memphis.

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NBA Draft 2013: Mavericks could shop No. 13 pick to maintain cap space

2013-05-22T02:35:02Z

The Dallas Mavericks are trying to trade their No. 13 overall draft pick in hopes of saving cap space before the 2013 NBA Draft takes place, according to ESPN NBA Insider Chad Ford.

Join fellow Mavericks fans at Mavs Moneyball

The Mavs are major players in the Dwight Howard sweepstakes, and reports have indicated that the Los Angeles Lakers big man and soon-to-be free agent is taking a hard look at the Lone Star State for his next playing destination. In order to make a real play for his services, Dallas needs to free up all the cap space they can in order to offer him a competitive contract.

The signee from the Mavericks' first-round selection would be slated to make $1,655,300. That's a considerable amount considering that Howard will command the maximum that teams other than the Lakers can offer. Howard has been silent so far in the offseason and has not made any definitive statements as to his intentions, although there has been speculation he is unhappy with the coaching situation in Los Angeles.

If Dallas is successful in clearing space, they will compete with the Houston Rockets for his services. The Rockets are positioned from a salary cap standpoint and have the young players to make an attractive offer and give Dallas and Los Angeles stiff competition for Howard's services.

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Wizards fans consider draft options at Bullets Forever

Washington Wizards claim No. 3 pick in 2013 NBA Draft lottery

2013-05-22T01:37:23Z

The Washington Wizards claimed the No. 3 pick at the 2013 NBA draft lottery on Tuesday night and will now have the opportunity to turn things around after a difficult end to the 2012-13 season. With young-and-upcoming guards John Wall and Bradley Beal already in place, it seems the Wizards are on their way to becoming relevant again in the Eastern Conference.

The Cavaliers, Magic and Wizards found themselves in the running in the top three for the No. 1 pick. Washington had just the eighth-best odds of winning the lottery, yet they still managed to find themselves in the running late. The No. 1 overall pick would've been nice, although there will be plenty of options for the team with the third pick.

The Cavs ended up winning the lottery for the second time in three years, with the Magic dropping to No. 2. Here is the full lottery order.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

2. Orlando Magic

3. Washington Wizards

4. Charlotte Bobcats

5. Phoenix Suns

6. New Orleans Pelicans

7. Sacramento Kings

8. Detroit Pistons

9. Minnesota Timberwolves

10. Portland Trail Blazers

11. Philadelphia 76ers

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Toronto)

13. Dallas Mavericks

14. Utah Jazz

Washington lost its last six games of the season, surpassing the 100-point mark only once during the stretch while allowing opponents to score 104.7. For the entire season, the team scored a paltry 93.2 points per contest. The caveat here is that Wall didn't play until January and gave the team an instant lift offensively upon returning to action.

So where will the Wizards go with their selection? With a young backcourt poised to lead the franchise into the future in Wall and Beal, all signs point to general manager Ernie Grunfeld going big and looking to bolster the frontcourt. Emeka Okafor and Nene are each 30 years old, so a young prospect such as Alex Len or Anthony Bennett could make sense, even if it takes them some time to develop. Nerlens Noel would be the ideal player, although he likely won't be around at No. 3.

If Washington is looking for an athletic wing, if could take a hard look at local product Otto Porter out of Georgetown. As the top-ranked small forward, Porter has size and a dynamic skill set that can make an impact right away.

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Dwight Howard expressed frustrations with Mike D'Antoni to Lakers' GM

2013-05-21T12:30:05Z

Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard hasn't said much in the media since an unceremonious end to the 2012-13 season, but when it came to what could be a final meeting between he and Lakers management, he voiced several concerns, many of which centered around head coach Mike D'Antoni.

Howard met separately with general manager Mitch Kupchak and head coach Mike D'Antoni following the end-of-season exit interviews, according to ESPN Los Angeles. Once D'Antoni left and Howard was able to speak with Kupchak alone, he let him know he was unhappy with the way D'Antoni overlooked him to be a team leader.

More: A blessing in disguise for Lakers fans?

Veterans Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash were the primary consultants on matters related to the Lakers' troubles during a tumultuous season, which upset Howard, according to the report. The fact that Howard wasn't a part of such dealings could factor in on whether or not he chooses to re-sign with the Lakers once free agency begins in July.

He wasn't happy about it, and now Lakers fans and the rest of the league have to play the waiting game to see what happens next. D'Antoni's earlier move to dismiss assistant coaches Steve Clifford and Chuck Person could also factor in, as Howard confided in both during the season.

The saga wears on, and these latest developments don't make Howard's assertion that he's "hopeful" seem any more concrete.

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