Heat vs. Pacers Takeaways: Tyler Herro's Late Push Fell Short As Jimmy Butler Thrived

Anthony Pasciolla | Apr 8, 2024

Apr 7, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) shoots the ball; Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports / Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Heat (43-35) fell short to the Indiana Pacers (45-34) on Sunday night in the final seconds of the game, 117-115.

Here's a look at the five major takeaways:

1. Tyler Herro's late push fell short in the final plays.

A 14-point final quarter for the star was ruined by a turnover with less than four seconds left. A lane violation was committed by big man Kevin Love on their last possession after Herro nailed multiple impressive shots down the stretch. He finished the night with 21 points and five rebounds on 6 of 12 shooting. His extended absence hurt the Heat's scoring on a major scale, as he is arguably their most aggressive player on offense.

2. Jimmy Butler held the game close until the end.

Showing flashes of 'Playoff Jimmy' should excite fans, but Butler's strong individual performance was not enough in a crucial game. The bulk of his scoring came in the first and third quarters, which kept the Heat within striking distance. Butler tallied 27 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds on 43.8 percent shooting. He found triumph at the free throw line, knocking down all 12 of his attempts.

3. Tyrese Haliburton disappointed in a must-win matchup for the Pacers.

Despite walking away victorious, Haliburton's performance is a concerning sign ahead of the postseason. 12 points and eight assists on inefficient shooting with three games remaining in the regular season is not promising. He often manages to succeed through playmaking on off nights, but 3 of 10 shooting will result in an abrupt playoff exit.

4. Caleb Martin and Nikola Jovic can hold down the forward positions, with Butler on the bench.

To have wings you can trust when Butler needs a break is without a doubt a relief for coach Erik Spoelstra. Martin is beginning to enter playoff form, scoring 20 points on 80 percent shooting. This level of play is what pushed the Heat over the Boston Celtics in last season's Eastern Conference Finals. Meanwhile, Jovic recorded 18 points on 6 of 10 shooting in 24 minutes of action.

5. T.J. McConnell and Myles Turner are much to thank for the victory.

An unsung hero in McConnell was a pivotal piece in tonight's game, which allowed the Pacers to remain outside of the Play-In Tournament. He scored 22 points along with five assists on 78.6 percent shooting while Turner battled it out against Heat center Bam Adebayo. He concluded the night with 22 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks on 6 of 12 shooting.

Anthony Pasciolla is a contributor to Inside The Heat. He can be reached at ampasciolla@gmail.com or on Instagram @anthony.pasciolla