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  Sunday, Mar. 12 12:30pm ET
Heat's Mourning puts on clinic in Indy
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The 1-2 punch of Miami's Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway knocked out Indiana's franchise-record 25-game home winning streak Sunday.

Mourning scored 35 points and Hardaway 22, including six in crucial part of the fourth quarter when Indiana was mounting a charge, as Miami defeated Indiana 105-96.

Dan Majerle
Dan Majerle and Miami found a way to end the Pacers' home magic.
"We played probably one of the best games we played all year," Miami coach Pat Riley said. "He (Mourning) was making his shot from outside. ... He had a variety of things going for him. He just plays a strong game."

Mourning was 13-of-18 from the field.

"When we execute our offense, we get good things. That's against any team," Riley said. "We moved the ball around and got the ball in the right position."

It was Mourning's 76th consecutive game in double figures and the seventh time this season he has had 30 or more points. Mourning had four blocks, raising his team-record to 927.

"We just executed our offense where we got good, high percentage shots," Mourning said. "We needed a road win. I just think we won in the effort department."

Mourning had 12 of his points in the third quarter when Miami took its biggest lead at 78-61 on his free throw with 3:36 remaining in the period.

Hardaway scored six of his eight fourth-quarter points in less than three minutes.

Jamal Mashburn scored 21 for the Heat, who snapped a three-game road losing streak.

Reggie Miller led Indiana with 26 and Jalen Rose had 21 in his first outing since missing two games with the stomach flu.

"It's tough (the loss) for the simple fact that we're probably playing a team that we'll play at some point down the road in the playoffs," Miller said. "We weren't going to go the whole year without losing a game at home."

The loss in the showdown between the Eastern Conference leaders. was Indiana's first in Conseco Fieldhouse since Nov. 25 and cut the Pacers' lead over Miami to 3½ games in the battle to earn home court advantage throughout the conference finals.

Indiana trailed 79-67 going into the fourth quarter. The Pacers, who still have the league's best home mark at 28-3, got back in the game behind the play of reserve Austin Croshere. He had 16 of his 19 points in the quarter when the Pacers pulled to within four points three times. Croshere's 3-pointer reduced Indiana's deficit to 83-79 with 7:45 to go.

"Coach got on us at the halftime that we weren't taking the ball into the paint enough," Croshere said. "It was able to take him (Mourning) from the perimeter, get a half-step on him and take it to the basket."

Hardaway then connected on a jumper, a 3-pointer and a free throw. His 3-pointer with 6:40 left made the score 88-81, but two consecutive baskets by Croshere cut Miami's advantage to 90-85 with 5:18 left.

A Hardaway free throw with 4:56 remaining, made it 91-85 with 4:56 and Rose's short jumper brought Indiana to within four points again. But Miami responded an 11-2 run as the Pacers went more than three minutes without scoring.

"We didn't have anybody to contain Mourning and Hardaway," Indiana coach Larry Bird said.

"Hardaway is a handful," said Indiana's Travis Best, who was defending him in the fourth quarter. "I gave him some shots by doubling down and trying to help on Mourning. We must give Miami credit. They played smart. They played heady, and stuck to their game plan."

There were 10 lead changes and four ties in the first half, which ended with Miami leading 53-49. The Heat shot 55 percent (22-of-40) in the half despite missing nine consecutive shots at one point.

Game notes
Indiana's sellout streak at Conseco was extended to 31 games. ... Chris Mullin missed his second straight game with a pulled right calf muscle. ... The teams played nearly 10 minutes before Mourning was called for traveling, the game's first turnover. Indiana had its first turnover of the game in the opening minute of the second period. ... Mourning has scored 92 points, grabbed 42 rebounds and had 10 blocks in three games against Indiana this season. Mourning made nine free throws, becoming Miami's all-time leader with 1,767. He passed Rony Seikaly when he made his ninth. ... The loss was Indiana's first in 10 home games against Atlantic division teams this season. ... Indiana had just three offensive rebounds, tying its frachise low for a game.

 


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RECAPS
Miami 105
Indiana 96

Boston 93
Philadelphia 77

Milwaukee 103
Cleveland 72

New Jersey 129
Orlando 91

New York 93
San Antonio 80

Toronto 99
Seattle 97

Portland 102
Washington 86

LA Clippers 112
Golden State 103

LA Lakers 109
Sacramento 106