Miami Heat (2-4) beat Indiana Pacers (2-4) 145-125 at home on Friday, October 30. The final margin was 20 points.
The game, quarter by quarter
The Pacers struck first, taking the opening quarter 42-36 and a 6-point lead after one. The Heat moved in front with a 32-19 second quarter, carrying a 7-point lead into halftime.
The Heat won the third 35-27 to create some separation, taking a 15-point lead into the fourth. The Heat took the fourth 42-37; the Heat finished the job for a 145-125 regulation win.
Why it was lopsided
The Heat got more from their shots, finishing at 69.2% effective field-goal shooting compared with 57.7% for the Pacers. The Heat grabbed 36.1% of their own misses, while the Pacers recovered 29.8%. That shooting gap supplied the clearest edge.
The Pacers did win one battle, ball security: TOV% of 12.8 against 15.4. The Heat made up for it elsewhere.
At roughly 103 possessions per team, the Heat produced 140.8 points per 100 possessions to 121.4 for the Pacers.
Who stood out
Giannis Antetokounmpo was the game's biggest individual force for MIA: 31 pts, 17 reb, 10 ast on 13-18 shooting. His Game Score of 35.4 led everyone. His team was +31 with him on the floor.
Quenton Jackson led the Pacers with 24 pts, 3 reb, 1 ast on 9-13 shooting, good for a 20.7 Game Score.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (31 pts, 17 reb, 10 ast) and Davion Mitchell (15 pts, 6 reb, 11 ast) each recorded a double-double.
What it means
The result fit the pre-game Win Meter, which gave the Heat about a 78% chance.
Across the last 7 meetings in our records, Indiana Pacers lead 4-3.
The Heat are now 2-4, and the Pacers are 2-4. The Heat last five before this game: L-L-L-L-W.
Written automatically by Tip Off Live software from box score data. Ratings and probabilities are our own model estimates.