Indiana Pacers star Paul George blamed the officiating in Game 4 of the 2014 NBA Eastern Conference finals for the Miami Heat's 102-90 win Monday night, pointing to the disparity in free throws between the two teams as the reason Miami won.
"I thought we outplayed them," George said after the game, via ESPN. "They won this game at the free throw line. They really just were able to get to the line more than we were, but I thought we outplayed them. I mean, you can't tell me we don't attack the basket as much as they attack the basket. You can't tell me we're not aggressive."
Miami went to the free throw line 34 times, twice as many times as Indiana's 17 trips.
"It's just demoralizing when [the free throws] are lopsided," George said. "I mean, I'm sorry to say, but that was the case. How rare is it we shoot 50 percent, turn the ball over around 13 or so times, outrebound a team and lose a ballgame? I thought we did a great job. I just thought we did a great job. ... But, again, they made 30 free throws, and that put them over the edge."
Heat star LeBron James, though, disagreed with George's assessment of the game.
"We did only have five turnovers, seven steals and 20 points off their turnovers," James said. "That has nothing to do with the free throw line."
The disparity in foul calls also limited Pacers center Roy Hibbert, who played for only 22 minutes.
"(Hibbert) got some touch fouls that put him on the bench," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "And he didn't get in a rhythm."
The series shifts back to Indiana on Wednesday for Game 5 of the Eastern conference finals.
