Heat Outrun Pacers in 20-Point NBA Cup Opener

The Miami Heat defeated the Indiana Pacers 145-125 on Friday night to start their NBA Cup campaign. Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded 31 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists in 31 minutes for his second triple-double of the season. Bam Adebayo contributed 27 points while shooting 11 of 14 from the field.

Klay Thompson played his best game since joining Miami, scoring 25 points and hitting seven 3-pointers. He needs 55 more 3-pointers to match Ray Allen for the third-most in NBA history. Pelle Larsson added 18 points, and Davion Mitchell recorded 15 points and 11 assists for Miami.

The Heat dominated the middle of the game, outscoring Indiana 67-46 in the second and third quarters. The Pacers scored 42 points in the first quarter but managed only 46 points in the next two periods combined. Quenton Jackson led Indiana with 24 points, while Andrew Nembhard added 22.

Indiana fielded only 11 available players for the contest. Tyrese Haliburton is out with a hamstring strain for at least two weeks, and Obi Toppin suffered a back injury before Friday morning shootaround. Acting coach Lloyd Pierce replaced Rick Carlisle, who was in Ogdensburg, New York, for his father’s funeral.

The loss leaves the Pacers with a difficult path toward the knockout rounds. Every team that has advanced in the past three years of the tournament finished its opening round with a 4-0 or 3-1 record. Indiana will host Brooklyn on Sunday, while the Heat travel to Los Angeles to face the Lakers on Monday.