The Indiana Pacers talked about playing with desperation before Tuesday night's important Game 4 matchup with the Miami Heat, then backed it up by out-toughing the defending champions in a 99-92 home victory.
Pacers center Roy Hibbert, who notched a double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds said, "We're never going to give up. We're relentless. All those guys in there, they believe we can win. No matter what all the analysts or whoever says anything, they count us out, those guys in the locker room were ready to play and we went out and played our hearts out."
Paul George, who is emerging as an NBA superstar in these playoffs had another off night shooting the basketball, but his defense on LeBron James is clearly affecting the series. James did not dominate in the post Tuesday night, and ended the game with a line of 24 points, six rebounds and five assists. While those are fine numbers, James is accustomed to playing better. "King" James was also 8-of-18 from the field.
James seemed uncharacteristically annoyed throughout the game with the referees, picking up an early technical foul and eventually fouling out for only the second time in his playoff career. He committed four fouls in the final 12 minutes of play. "It was a couple of fouls that I didn't feel like were fouls, personal fouls on me, but that's how the game goes sometimes," James said.
At several points throughout the game Miami seemed poised to take control of things, but each time Indiana was able to respond, a fact that wasn't lost on Heat big man Chris Bosh. "We had them right where we wanted them, but every time we would get a stop, especially in the fourth quarter, we didn't come up with the rebound," Bosh said. "It was there for us, but we didn't capitalize."
Now, the pressure shifts to Miami to defend their home floor in Game 5; if they can't get a win they will face elimination back in Indiana.
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