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Heat rout Pacers behind LeBron's big game

Jan 5, 2012 - 4:56 AM Miami, FL (Sports Network) - LeBron James poured in 33 points, dished out 13 assists and pulled down eight rebounds, helping the Miami Heat dominate the Indiana Pacers, 118-83.

A scary moment took place at the end of the third quarter, when James was on the ground holding his left ankle. While going up for a layup, James stepped on Paul George's foot and went to the floor holding his ankle, but managed to play the rest of the game.

"He was aggressive and active on both sides of the ball," Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said about James. "He had 13 assists, but a lot of defensive plays and the rebounds in traffic really got us out in the open court in the first half. We were able to get a lot of different contributions (from James)."

Chris Bosh added 22 points and six boards for the Heat, who bounced back from Monday's 100-92 loss to the Hawks. James Jones and Mario Chalmers both donated 14 points.

Miami was without guard Dwyane Wade due to a sore left foot.

Roy Hibbert ended with 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Pacers, who have lost two of three since a 3-0 start to the season. Tyler Hansbrough and George added 14 and 13 points, respectively.

"We were right there with them but then they went into second gear and unfortunately we were still in first," Hibbert said.

The Heat led by as many as six in the first quarter and took a 29-27 lead into the second.

Holding a 37-33 edge with 7:31 left until half, Miami went on a 7-0 spurt to create some distance. Jones scored the final five points of the flurry to give the home team a 44-33 margin with 6:29 to go.

Ahead by nine, 46-37, with 5:35 remaining, the Heat closed the half out on a 16-2 run to take full control. James' slam with 2.1 seconds left made it a 62-39 game at the break.

The Pacers used a 9-0 run midway through the third frame to cut their deficit to 71-58 with 4:44 left.

Miami essentially put the game away with an 11-1 spurt to end the stanza. James, who hurt his ankle during the spurt, tallied five points to give the home team an 88-66 lead after three.

The Heat outscored Indiana by a 30-17 margin in the fourth.

Game Notes

Miami took two of three meetings with Indiana a season ago and has won seven of the past eight matchups between the teams. Indiana has lost nine of 11 and 10 of its last 13 visits to south Florida...It was James' third double-double of the season...The Heat went 2-1 on a three-game homestand...Pacers guard Lance Stephenson left the game with a sprained left ankle...Indiana was without center Jeff Foster (back) and forward Jeff Pendergraph (knee)...Miami shot 52.5 percent from the floor.