LeBron James Leads Miami Heat to Game Three Victory Over Indiana Pacers to Regain Home-Court Advantage

LeBron James scored just 22 points but it proved to be enough as his Miami Heat rediscovered their offensive prowess, routing the Indiana Pacers 114-96 on Sunday in Indianapolis to take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA playoffs.

James got plenty of help as the Heat reclaimed the home-court advantage they lost two nights earlier. Dwyane Wade had 18 points, and Udonis Haslem added 17.

David West led Indiana with 21 points, and Roy Hibbert had 20 points and 17 rebounds. The Pacers lost for the first time at home in the playoffs this season, dropping to 6-1.

Game 4 is Tuesday night in Indianapolis.

Miami used an 8-2 run to open up a 10-point lead in the second quarter led 70-56 at halftime -- Miami's biggest lead in the series.

Indiana didn't get closer than seven the rest of the way.

It was a rare letdown from one of the NBA's top defensive teams.

Miami shot 54.5 percent from the field, was 24 of 28 from the free-throw line, matched its highest-scoring quarter of the playoffs this season (34) in the first, broke the franchise's postseason scoring record for a half with 70 points and tied a franchise playoff record with only one first-half turnover.

Tonight, Miami got major contributions from a handful of players and left nothing to chance.

It traded baskets through the first quarter, building a 34-30 lead and getting the Pacers out of their grind-it-out style, then opened up the second quarter on an 8-2 run to make it 42-32. Indiana couldn't get closer than seven the rest of the half and when James knocked down a 15-foot jumper with 1.3 seconds left, the Heat had the record.

Indiana was a different team to start the second half, getting back-to-back 3-pointers and a three-point play from George Hill. Lance Stephenson then followed that with 1 of 2 free throws to cut it to 74-67.

But Miami countered with a 9-4 run, extended the lead to 91-76 after three and made it 99-78 early in the fourth.

Indiana closed to 101-87 midway through the fourth but couldn't any closer. It was only the third time this season the Pacers lost at home by double digits. Indiana fell 97-75 to Oklahoma City in April and 105-95 in the regular-season finale to Philadelphia when coach Frank Vogel rested four of five starters.