May 28, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers fans react during the third quarter in game five against the Miami Heat of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Paul George went off and scored 31 of his 37 points in the second half of Game 5 to stave off elimination, pulling his Pacers past the Miami Heat 93-90 on Wednesday night.
Miami still leads the Eastern Conference Finals 3-2. Game 6 is Friday in Miami.
LeBron James, who battled through foul trouble throughout the night, finished with seven points, four assists and two rebounds. It wasn’t his best game, to say the least.
Still, in the end, the Heat had a chance. Though, a Chris Bosh missed corner-three is what will force a Game 6 on Friday. Indiana lives to die another day.
Here are some of the postgame highlights from Game 5:
The Pacers finally took it to another level. It took them only five games.
Frank Vogel says he felt his team had "yellow light" mentality. Told them to have "green light" and Paul George "took it to a crazy level."
— Ethan J. Skolnick, 5 Reasons Sports (@EthanJSkolnick) May 29, 2014
LeBron didn’t have a great game.
First time in LeBron's career that he had more combined turnovers and fouls (8) than points (7).
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) May 29, 2014
Yea…Paul George was insanely good last night.
Paul George's 31 second-half points tonight were the most by anyone in a playoff game since Dirk Nowitzki had 33 vs. Phoenix on 6/1/06.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) May 29, 2014
Not everyone is going to love the look that Chris Bosh got at the end of the game, but Miami will live with it seven days a week.
Spoelstra on the last play: "We'll take that look."
— Ethan J. Skolnick, 5 Reasons Sports (@EthanJSkolnick) May 29, 2014
Did I mention that Paul George was really good in Game 5?
Paul George finished with 37 points. The Pacers scored 33 points in the first half.
— Joseph Goodman, Sports Enthusiast 🎟🍺 (@JoeGoodmanJr) May 29, 2014
Miami didn’t get to the line all too much, but they still outplayed the Pacers. Right, Paul George?
Heat shot eight free throws tonight -- the lowest total by a team in the last 1,447 NBA playoff games.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) May 29, 2014
Ray Allen on Stephenson’s kiss of death.
Ray Allen on Lance Stephenson's antics: "It's just buffoonery."
— Ethan J. Skolnick, 5 Reasons Sports (@EthanJSkolnick) May 29, 2014
Shane Battier?
Has Shane Battier ever blown in another player's ear? "I'll save that for Mrs. Battier."
— Ethan J. Skolnick, 5 Reasons Sports (@EthanJSkolnick) May 29, 2014
Then, analysis.
Heat 0-1 all-time when Lance Stephenson blows into LeBron James' ear. #analytics
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) May 29, 2014
And lastly, LeBron.
LEBRON: “All that extra that Lance wants to do, I don’t really care about all that."
— Joseph Goodman, Sports Enthusiast 🎟🍺 (@JoeGoodmanJr) May 29, 2014
Game 6 will be important. The again, so should every game in the ECF.
LEBRON: "It's the Eastern Conference finals. There should be urgency no matter what."
— Joseph Goodman, Sports Enthusiast 🎟🍺 (@JoeGoodmanJr) May 29, 2014
LeBron on his decision on the Heat’s final possession.
LeBron on last play: "It's like playing cards, that's why they got backs on 'em. You don't know what's gonna happen."
— Ethan J. Skolnick, 5 Reasons Sports (@EthanJSkolnick) May 29, 2014
It’s been a few hours after Game 5 and Stephenson still hasn’t said anything stupid. Good sign.
"Just gonna take one game at a time and believe in each other." - @StephensonLance
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 29, 2014
George giving his teammates credit for his big game.
Paul George came back from the cold tub. But says during the game: "My teammates found me and I got hot."
— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) May 29, 2014
"My teammates needed me to make plays down the stretch. And I was fortunate enough to do so." - @Paul_George24 pic.twitter.com/kfgrdJ00xj
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 29, 2014
George stating the obvious. He was insane.
George: "I was just in a zone. Regardless of who was guarding me."
— Mark Gunnels (@MarkAGunnels) May 29, 2014
Looking to Game 6, George is expecting LeBron to be LeBron again.
George: "I expect LeBron to be LeBron in game 6. He's the smartest player in the world."
— Mark Gunnels (@MarkAGunnels) May 29, 2014
And we’ll round out the night with an insane stat. The Pacers were insanely good down the stretch, mostly thanks to George.
Pacers' first 46 possessions: 35 points (76 per 100). Last 39 possessions: 58 points (149 per 100).
— John Schuhmann (@johnschuhmann) May 29, 2014