Giannis Antetokounmpo went absolutely off in Miami, dropping his second triple-double of the season to lead the Heat to a dominant 145-125 win over the seriously shorthanded Indiana Pacers. This wasn’t just another game, either, this was the NBA Cup group play opener for both squads at the Kaseya Center, and the Pacers, playing with just eight guys on standard contracts, got completely overwhelmed.
The Greek Freak’s Unstoppable Roll
The Greek Freak was unstoppable, plain and simple. His 31 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists marked his second triple-double of the young season already. But he wasn’t alone carrying the load. Bam Adebayo chipped in with a solid 27 points and nine boards, while Klay Thompson lit it up from deep with 25 points, nailing seven three-pointers. Young gun Pelle Larsson was perfect from the field, hitting all five of his shots for 18 points, and Davion Mitchell dished out 11 assists to go with his 15 points. This Heat squad looked deep, y’all.
Pacers Suffer in “Most Loaded” Group
For the Pacers, it was a tough night, even after they started hot. They were playing seriously shorthanded, rolling with only 11 players available, and just eight of those on standard contracts due to a string of injuries. That’s brutal, man. Despite the uphill battle, Quenton Jackson still dropped 24 points and Andrew Nembhard added 22, but it wasn’t enough to contain Miami’s veteran crew. This loss pushes Indiana to 2-4 on the season, and a big fat 0-1 in the NBA Cup’s East Group B, which, by the way, is officially described as “the most loaded” group. Miami now sits at 2-4 overall, 1-0 in that wild group.
This early NBA Cup game sets a serious tone. The Heat are riding high with a critical group win, while the Pacers need to figure out their injury situation fast if they want any shot at getting out of East Group B. We’re just getting started with the NBA Cup, and if this game is any indication, it’s gonna be a wild ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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