Miami Heat Cruise Past Struggling Pacers

Heat look to strengthen playoff positioning with dominant win over Indiana

Mar. 29, 2026 at 6:56pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Miami Heat took care of business against the lowly Indiana Pacers, cruising to a 142-116 victory in their third and final regular season matchup. The Heat, firmly in the Eastern Conference play-in mix, used a balanced offensive attack to overpower the Pacers, who hold the NBA's worst record at 15-58.

Why it matters

This win keeps the Heat in the hunt for a higher playoff seed, as they look to avoid the play-in tournament for the second straight season. Meanwhile, the Pacers' dismal campaign continues, as they struggle to remain competitive against the conference's top teams.

The details

Led by Tyler Herro's 27 points, the Heat had five players score in double figures, including Bam Adebayo's 20-point, 10-rebound double-double. Miami's up-tempo offense overwhelmed Indiana, which was missing several key players due to injury. The Pacers' lone bright spot was the play of Kobe Brown, who had a team-high 19 points off the bench.

  • The Heat and Pacers faced off for the third and final time this regular season.
  • Miami previously defeated Indiana 142-116 on January 10th, while the Pacers won the most recent matchup 123-99 on January 29th.

The players

Tyler Herro

The Heat's leading scorer, averaging 20.9 points per game this season.

Bam Adebayo

Miami's All-Star center, posting 20.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game.

Kobe Brown

A Pacers reserve who led the team with 19 points in the loss.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We knew we needed to come out strong and set the tone early. Our guys did a great job of executing the game plan and not letting up, even with the big lead.”

— Erik Spoelstra, Heat Head Coach

“It's been a long, tough season, but we're going to keep fighting until the end. Games like this are opportunities for our young guys to get valuable experience.”

— Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers Guard (injured)

What’s next

The Heat will look to build on this win as they continue their push for a higher playoff seed, while the Pacers will try to play spoiler in their remaining games as they eye the NBA Draft Lottery.

The takeaway

This dominant performance by the Heat underscores the stark contrast between these two teams' fortunes this season. Miami remains firmly in the playoff hunt, while Indiana's rebuild continues as they vie for the league's worst record and a high draft pick.