The Eastern Conference finals returns to South Beach tied, 2-2. The Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers battle Thursday night for the upper hand in the series in Game 5.
Game 5 is on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET. You can watch it HERE.
This series it the most competitive yet for the reigning NBA champions. The Pacers, a team of bigger-sized players, have outrebounded the Heat and made life difficult for LeBron James and company, the Associated Press reports.
"We have a great locker room of Alpha competitors," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters. "And so they take this very seriously. We're playing against a worthy opponent and if we don't play well, they beat us. If they don't play well and we impose our identity, we beat them. That's what this is all about. So let's lace 'em up and let's get ready for Game 5."
"We don't need confidence to go into any game," James said. "We're a confident bunch. We're excited to get the opportunity to go back to our home and play Game 5."
If Indiana pulls away with a win at the American Airlines Arena, they will have the opportunity to close out the series at home for Game 6. Miami isn't worried.
"We've got to be at our best," Pachers coach Frank Vogel told reporters. "Our intensity, our determination, our focus, we've got to keep getting better if we're going to beat this team."
Pacers center Roy Hibbert, who recently called Shane Battier a "dirty player," looks to control the paint on Thursday. Miami doesn't play a true center, which gives the big man the advantage down low. He's seen what Miami likes to do.
"We know what they run, they know what we run," Pacers center Roy Hibbert said. "So I guess it's more about who wants it more."
Game 5 featured a night of poor shooting from Miami. They shot a lowly 39 percent from the field, their second-worst shooting night of the entire season.
"We understand that the champs are going to come back and be ready to play at home," Pacers swingman Paul George said. "And we need to be ready to come out and play well."
