LeBron’s Buzzer-Beater Pushes Heat Past Pacers in OT
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Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images(MIAMI) — Who has help defense on Lebron?…Apparently nobody.
With two seconds left in overtime, LeBron James caught the inbounds pass quickly made his way around Paul George where he found himself with a clear path to the game wining layup, as the Miami Heat topped the Indiana Pacers 103-102 in overtime of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Wednesday.
LeBron finished the game with his ninth career playoff triple-double scoring 30 points, grabbing 10 boards and dishing out 10 assists.
Still, the talk after the game was about a man who wasn’t in the game.
Pacers head coach Frank Vogel pulled 7-foot-2, 280 pound center Roy Hibbert for the final play. Hibbert’s presence in the lane could have at least made it difficult for James to score.
Vogel says Chris Bosh’s offensive ability is why he chose to sit the big man.
“If Roy were in the game he probably would have been a first or second option (Bosh),” Vogel said when explaining why Hibbert wasn’t in the game. “If it didn’t come to LeBron, or if LeBron one bounced it and drew Roy to the rim to have Bosh spot it up. It’s the dilemma that they present. Obviously with the way it worked out it would have been better to have Roy in the game.”
Paul George scored 27 points in the loss, and hit three key free throws to give the Pacers a one point lead before James hit the winning shot.
Game 2 is Friday night in Miami. Tip-off scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Eastern.
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