The Indiana Pacers continued their strong offensive run, powered by Tyrese Haliburton’s stellar performance, to defeat the Miami Heat 128-115 on Thursday night. Haliburton delivered a commanding display with 33 points and 15 assists, while Myles Turner added 21 points. Pascal Siakam contributed a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds, as Indiana shot an impressive 53% from the field and led by as many as 28 points.
Indiana’s high-powered offense was on full display, especially from beyond the arc. The team knocked down 17 three-pointers, improving to 8-2 this season in games where they hit at least 15 triples. Their early dominance was evident as Haliburton took over the first quarter, scoring 16 points and dishing out five assists. This marked only the third time in his career he has achieved such a stat line in a quarter.
The game’s turning point came early in the third quarter when Miami trimmed the deficit to 14 points. Indiana quickly answered with a six-point burst in just 30 seconds—a three-point play from Turner followed by a three-pointer from Siakam—pushing their lead to 20. From there, the Pacers never looked back.
Kel’el Ware led the Heat with 25 points, while Bam Adebayo contributed 20, Tyler Herro added 17, and Terry Rozier chipped in 16. Jimmy Butler struggled for the second consecutive night, scoring just nine points and sitting out the fourth quarter, mirroring his performance in Wednesday’s win against New Orleans. The Heat’s shooting woes and defensive lapses allowed Indiana to control the tempo throughout.
Indiana’s reliance on three-point shooting paid dividends once again. They remain unbeaten in games where they hit at least 15 triples this season but are just 5-10 when connecting on 12 or fewer.
Thursday marked the 25th anniversary of Miami’s first game at Kaseya Center, where they boast an all-time home record of 736-395. Despite their historical success, the Heat could not capitalize on the milestone night.
Haliburton’s first-quarter outburst (16 points and five assists) marked another milestone in his young career. Interestingly, the Pacers lost the previous two games where Haliburton recorded similar single-quarter performances.
Both teams return to action at home on Saturday night. The Pacers host the Phoenix Suns, while the Heat take on the Utah Jazz at Kaseya Center.
