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Late Push By LeBron, Wade Carries Heat Over Pacers

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Three times now LeBron James has hoisted the NBA's MVP trophy.

With Chris Bosh out with an abdominal injury for the second half Sunday afternoon, the Miami Heat’s other two stars did not flinch. Rather, they made it happen for the Heat to the tune of a 95-86 Game 1 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

LeBron James, who received his third league MVP trophy prior to the game, rang up 32 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and Wade managed 29 points in the Heat’s conquest.

Bosh scored 13 points for Miami, but left late in the first half with a lower abdominal injury and did not return, with the Heat saying he was scheduled for an MRI to determine the extent of the problem.

The score was tied at 70 going into the fourth quarter, but the Pacers were flustered by the swarming Heat defense and managed just 16 points. To get an idea of how dominant James and Wade were, check this out: Those two outscored Indiana 42-38 in the second half.

”It’s a battle and we know, regardless of being at home, being away, who we’re playing, what round, it’s tough to win in the playoffs and you have to fight for every single possession,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. ”And that’s what it was.”

David West and Roy Hibbert each scored 17 points and combined for 23 rebounds for the Pacers, who got 10 points each from Darren Collison and George Hill. The Pacers get another shot to knock off the Heat in Game 2 is Tuesday in Miami.

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