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INDIANAPOLIS -- This was supposed to be the most daunting test of the regular season — three road games in three nights against quality Eastern Conference teams in the playoff hunt.
The Heat passed its final exam Tuesday night with flying colors. Playing inspired and without much hint of exhaustion, the Heat capped its back-to-back-to-back trips through Atlanta, Milwaukee and Bankers Life Fieldhouse by blowing past the Indiana Pacers 105-90.
The Heat, which beat the Hawks by 20 on Sunday and the Bucks by 18 on Monday, became the first team to win three road games on three consecutive nights by double digits since 1970-71 NBA champion Milwaukee.
You remember those Bucks? Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson led them to a 66-16 record and 12-2 record in the playoffs.
The Heat — off to a 23-7 start — seeks similar near-perfection. On Tuesday night, though, coach Erik Spoelstra said his team enjoyed “a breakthrough moment” one that “catapulted us to another level.”
“We knew about the 1970-71 record — the double-digit wins, the back-to-back-to-backs. We knew nobody had done it. We knew all the elements,” said Dwyane Wade, who sat the entire fourth quarter after the Heat built a 35-point lead in the third quarter. “For us, this was about playing full-out, whatever lineup was on the floor, making sure we got the most out of each guy, no drop-off. It was probably the best we’ve played together in a while. We’re in a groove. Hopefully, we stay there for a while.”
Wade played 24 minutes and finished with 16 points, six rebounds and three assists. When LeBron James left with 9:44 remaining, he was a rebounds and three assists shy of a triple-double (24 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, four steals). Wade and James spent the waning seconds giving away their shoes and other Heat gear to fans in the crowd.
James arrived at the arena along with teammates Mike Miller and James Jones an hour before the team bus did.
“It’s all about leadership — not
The Heat passed its final exam Tuesday night with flying colors. Playing inspired and without much hint of exhaustion, the Heat capped its back-to-back-to-back trips through Atlanta, Milwaukee and Bankers Life Fieldhouse by blowing past the Indiana Pacers 105-90.
The Heat, which beat the Hawks by 20 on Sunday and the Bucks by 18 on Monday, became the first team to win three road games on three consecutive nights by double digits since 1970-71 NBA champion Milwaukee.
You remember those Bucks? Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson led them to a 66-16 record and 12-2 record in the playoffs.
The Heat — off to a 23-7 start — seeks similar near-perfection. On Tuesday night, though, coach Erik Spoelstra said his team enjoyed “a breakthrough moment” one that “catapulted us to another level.”
“We knew about the 1970-71 record — the double-digit wins, the back-to-back-to-backs. We knew nobody had done it. We knew all the elements,” said Dwyane Wade, who sat the entire fourth quarter after the Heat built a 35-point lead in the third quarter. “For us, this was about playing full-out, whatever lineup was on the floor, making sure we got the most out of each guy, no drop-off. It was probably the best we’ve played together in a while. We’re in a groove. Hopefully, we stay there for a while.”
Wade played 24 minutes and finished with 16 points, six rebounds and three assists. When LeBron James left with 9:44 remaining, he was a rebounds and three assists shy of a triple-double (24 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, four steals). Wade and James spent the waning seconds giving away their shoes and other Heat gear to fans in the crowd.
James arrived at the arena along with teammates Mike Miller and James Jones an hour before the team bus did.
“It’s all about leadership — not