Small bumps and scrapes in the first four games of the Indiana Pacers-Miami Heat second-round matchup, followed by rhetoric to corral officials, appeared to be harmless posturing to gain an advantage.
But those little run-ins ignited into something more serious in Miami's 115-83 win in Game 5, easily the most physical contest of the series. Indiana big man Tyler Hansbrough and Miami forward Udonis Haslem were called for flagrant fouls, and Heat center Dexter Pittman leveled Pacers guard Lance Stephenson with less than 20 seconds left and Miami up big.
Heat star Dwyane Wade was raked across the face by Hansbrough. "Obviously, my face is not the ball," Wade said when asked if Hansbrough made a play for the clean block. Haslem's foul, made on Hansbrough, looked to be retaliation for the scratch on Wade.
FROM SI: Smothering Heat defense ignites blowout | Just enjoy the NBA's most gifted player
Pittman didn't hide his intentions on his foul, winking after his hard hit on Stephenson. That move was caught by TNT's cameras and replayed on "Inside the NBA." Stephenson somehow managed to stay on his feet after taking an elbow to the neck.
Stephenson had an X-ray on his collarbone that came back negative for a break, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com.
Stephenson became a target after he made a choke sign following a missed technical free throw by Miami's LeBron James in the third quarter of the Pacers' Game 3 win in Indianapolis.
CBSSports Ken Berger spoke with a Pacer who said that Metta World Peace would be "suspended for life" if he did that.
"It was bad," the anonymous Pacer said of the Pittman play. "And they were celebrating afterward. The tape don't lie."
The Heat take a 3-2 lead into Game 6 of the best-of-seven series, and could be without Pittman and Haslem on Thursday in Indianapolis as they look to close out the Pacers.
"It was tough to watch," said Pacers forward Danny Granger, who left in the second half with an ankle injury. "It was like the Wild West."
Goodell defends turf: NFL commissioner discusses bounties, player safety
Bynum's preference: 'I definitely want to be a Laker'
Kings headed to Stanley Cup finals: L.A. wins West with OT goal vs. Coyotes
Not so super: Most of AL's supposed best teams struggling after season's first quarter
No comments:
Post a Comment