The Indiana Pacers delivered one of their most complete offensive performances of the season Sunday night, riding a barrage of 3-pointers and a dominant all-around effort from Pascal Siakam to a 135–118 victory over the Miami Heat. A result that carried very different implications for both teams’ late-season trajectories.
Siakam led the way with 30 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, powering a short-handed Indiana squad that leaned heavily on ball movement and perimeter shooting to secure just its second win since the All-Star break. The veteran forward controlled the tempo throughout the night, scoring inside and out while facilitating opportunities for teammates during key stretches.
Micah Potter provided a breakout performance, scoring 21 points and tying a career high with five made 3-pointers. He was particularly effective early, scoring 19 points in the first half alone as Indiana connected on 13 first half triples to seize momentum in a fast-paced contest.
Kobe Brown added another milestone effort, finishing with a career-high 18 points as one of five additional Pacers players to reach double figures. Indiana’s balanced scoring attack helped offset its short-handed roster and kept Miami’s defense scrambling throughout the night. The Pacers finished with 18 made 3-pointers overall in the victory.
Despite the win being just Indiana’s 17th of the season, matching Brooklyn and Washington for the fewest in the league. It stood out as one of the team’s most efficient offensive outings and a rare bright spot in a difficult second half of the campaign.
For Miami, the loss represented another setback in a troubling late-season slide. The Heat have now dropped seven of their last eight games, putting increasing pressure on their hopes of avoiding the Eastern Conference play-in tournament and securing a top-six postseason seed.
Tyler Herro carried Miami offensively early, scoring 23 of his 31 points in the first half to keep the Heat within striking distance. Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 17 points, while All-Star Bam Adebayo contributed 15 points and 12 rebounds in a steady but ultimately insufficient effort to slow Indiana’s surge.
The game remained tight through three quarters. Brown’s 3-pointer with four seconds remaining in the third gave Indiana a narrow 108–107 edge entering the final period. Miami briefly reclaimed control early in the fourth quarter with four straight points to take a 111–110 lead, but the Pacers quickly responded.
Indiana answered with an 11–2 run to retake momentum and stretch the lead to 121–113 before closing the game decisively with a 14–3 finishing burst that sealed the victory.
Miami also felt the absence of guard Norman Powell, who missed the game due to an upper respiratory infection, further complicating the team’s rotation during a critical stretch of the season.
The Heat return home Monday night to open a three-game homestand against Philadelphia, while the Pacers head to Chicago on Wednesday to begin a three game road trip as they look to build on a rare but encouraging win.
