Heat (2-0): 96

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Recap

Well, at least there was one thing right in my prediction. I predicted the Pacers to win 101-96. Well, I got the Heat part right with 96 points but apparently, I was 19 points off for the Pacers margin.

The Pacers now move down to 0-2 after losing to the Hawks and getting killed by Miami today.

Jermaine O’Neal got his first taste of revenge on his former team and showed power and leadership to the starting five of the Heat as he dished 22 points and twelve rebounds. People were really on track of him being his oldself. The injuries are behind and now he’s back to his dominate self.

Dwayne Wade played pretty good, having 32 points. Danny Granger led Indy with 22 points but was poor from the field, missing 14 shots as he was six-of-20. Troy Murphy was the top performer, putting up twelve points with 13 staggering rebounds.

Newly acquired free agents Solomon Jones and Luther Head had their share of twelve points. The Pacers played a very bad game today, shooting 37 percent of their shots, 17 percent of their three’s.

This was J.O.’s first 20-point ten-rebound game since 2007 in December when he was in the blue and gold. The Pacers were down big 28-12 at the end of the first but made a rally to come back as they were at a two-point deficit at halftime, 49-47.

But in the third quarter, things began to shake up and that was what really led to the loss. The Pacers had a chance to win, but failed and the closest the came after the third was just eight measley points.

The Pacers will now be hosting the Denver Nuggets, and this is going to be a very tough matchup. Carmelo Anthony is looking terrific, and let’s hope Granger does in that game as well.

It’s just the start of the season, nothing to worry about.

Things can change quickly.

Or rapidly.

Some Worthy Notes:

• This is the second double-digit loss of the season
• Roy Hibbert had five fouls, another fouling game for him
• Two of Hibbert’s fouls landed on Jermaine O’Neal
• Jeff Foster sprained his ankle in the first quarter and did not return
• Mike Dunleavy, Tyler Hansbrough did not play

Next game:

Pacers (0-2) at Denver Nuggets (2-0)

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