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Dunleavy, Granger carry explosive Pacers past Heat

Jan 31, 2009 - 4:59 AM By Chris Nelsen PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Miami Heat's miseries in Indianapolis aren't getting any better.

Mike Dunleavy scored a season-high 30 points, first-time All-Star Danny Granger netted 19 and Troy Murphy added 19 and 12 rebounds as the Indiana Pacers thumped the Heat, 114-103, on Friday night to win their seventh consecutive home game.

It was also the Pacers' 13th straight home victory over Miami, which fell to 5-38 all-time in Indianapolis. The Heat's last road win in the series came on December 31, 2001.

"I don't know," Granger said of Indiana's home dominance over Miami. "It's just one of those things where I guess they don't play too well at Conseco Fieldhouse. But they've beaten us a lot of times in Miami."

The Pacers, who led by as many as 22 points in the game, made a season-high 15 3-pointers. Murphy had five, Dunleavy four and Jarrett Jack knocked down three.

"We stepped up and knocked them in," Dunleavy said. "We obviously moved the ball very well and that's really the key - drive and kick and hit the open man. We have a lot of guys that can shoot it."

Miami guard Dwyane Wade, who entered the night as the NBA's leading scorer at 28.5 points per game, finished with 24 points, Mark Blunt scored 17 off the bench and rookie reserve Michael Beasley chipped in 11 and 11 rebounds for the Heat, who had their three-game win streak snapped.

"There was not enough focus coming out, knowing how hard this game was going to be," Wade said. "(The Pacers) play very well at home, and very well, period."

Miami played without forward Shawn Marion, who missed the game with a left groin strain. Heat forward Udonis Haslem was tossed in the first quarter after picking up back-to-back technical fouls for arguing a personal foul call.

"It hurt us a lot," Wade said of losing Haslem. "He's very solid for us on the defensive end as well as the offensive end. It hurt us tremendously."

The Pacers took control early in the second quarter and never looked back. With Indiana holding a 29-26 lead heading into the second quarter, Dunleavy exploded for 18 points in the period to help Indiana extend its advantage to double-digits. Dunleavy went 6-of-7 from the field in the quarter, including 2-of-3 from the arc, and made 4-of-5 free throws.

"When (Dunleavy) shoots the ball like that, we're going to be hard to beat," Granger said. "I sat on the bench and enjoyed."

Maceo Baston's steal less than a minute into the period helped set up a pair of free throws by T.J. Ford, sparking a 12-2 run that put Indiana into cruise control. Murphy and Granger knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers during the spurt, which the Heat finally quelled thanks to Beasley's 3-pointer.

By that time, the damage was already done, as the Heat were down by double digits for most of the rest of the night. The Pacers opened their biggest lead of the period, 66-49, on Ford's running jumper as time expired in the first half.

"Simply a case of readiness, not being in the right mind to compete," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "(The Pacers) can get you on your heels with that style of offense."

Dunleavy and the Pacers continued to pour it on in the third quarter. The seven-year veteran guard hit a layup to give Indiana an 88-66 edge with 3:41 left in the period. Wade's layup brought Miami within 91-73, but Baston's basket pushed the lead to 20 entering the fourth quarter.

Dunleavy said he's getting his strength back after missing the first 34 games this season with a sore right knee. He finished 10-of-18 from the field Friday.

"I still missed some easy ones that I normally make," he said. "But I'm getting there and it felt good to see the ball go in."