Indiana Pacers Defeat Miami Heat To Bring Eastern Conference Series To 3-2! Paul George Returns To MVP Form To Keep Season Alive!

The Indiana Pacers have defeated the Miami Heat at their homecourt in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference Best of Seven Series. They live another day as they bring the series to 3-2 in favor of Miami.

They still have to win a game in enemy territory to force a do-or-die match like last year.

ESPN had the game covered. They talked to Frank Vogel on how he kept his wards focused on survival: "My message to the whole team was the light needs to be on green for all of us," coach Frank Vogel said. "You need to go, you need to attack, you need to be aggressive. Paul took it and ran with it and took it to a crazy level."

Paul George, the Pacers superstar, let the world remember that he was an early MVP candidate this season. He exploded for 37 points, 21 in the fourth quarter: "I just felt it. I felt in rhythm. I had to be aggressive. I tried to come out and be aggressive to start this game off, and I was getting looks. I got hot."

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was gracious in defeat: "We still had enough opportunities to come away with a win. We just couldn't get over the hump."

They also recounted: "Hard falls and tough plays were a theme all night for a Pacers team that had been roundly criticized for its lack of effort in Monday night's loss. Lance Stephenson took it a step further. At one point, he attempted to listen in on one of Miami's huddles. At another, he blew in James' ear."

Ray Allen called Stephenson's antics as "buffoonery" and the Heat's LeBron James would agree:

"I'm just here to play basketball, man. All the extracurricular activities, I don't really get into.  I'm just trying to win. We need one more win to get to the Finals. That's my only concern. All the extra stuff, whatever Lance wants to do, I don't really care about that."

Game 6 will be in Miami. The Pacers need to win-or be sent home by Miami for the third straight season.