https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8az3TWHQuk

The Heat were not having any of the Nets in Game Two. A late possession was actually four that demoralized and crushed the Nets. Ray Allen dug out a rebound, Dwyane Wade tipped out another rebound, Chris Bosh chased down another one. Sure LeBron James needed four attempts to get that one make, but the nearly two minutes Miami took off the clock had to destroy any confidence Brooklyn might have had left as the team mucked up this game and gave itself a chance.

The Heat were just better in a 94-82 victory.

James scored 22 points on 9-for-18 shooting and Allen added 13 points off the bench. Chris Bosh scored 18 for Miami. The Nets kept things close, but not close enough. Eventually the Heat pulled away.

Brooklyn certainly could have used a little bit more from Deron Williams. Williams put up a goose egg, missing all nine of his shots. Six assists and seven rebounds saved the former All Star from Roy Hibbert territory.

Mirza Teletovic kept things spaced with 20 points on 6-for-9 shooting from beyond the arc. That was about all you could say about the Brooklyn offense. Bogged down by Miami’s defense, but not committing the turnovers, Miami could not get itself going offensively.

Not until Ray Allen came alive in the second half and things settled down. Even a six-point lead seemed too much and the Heat slowly pulled away at the end for a 2-0 lead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gthSEekzGW4

Roy Hibbert did manage to show up for a Playoff game after his goose egg performance in Game One. In fact, his performance in Game Two might have been better than any performance he has had in the last several months. If Indiana gets this Roy Hibbert, the team will be very difficult to beat. Particularly with that defense.

Hibbert scored 28 points — not a typo — and grabbed nine rebounds for the Pacers in an 86-82 win over the Wizards to even the series at one heading to Washington.

Before Wednesday’s game, Hibbert had just 37 total points in eight playoff games. Take out that 13-point performance in Game Seven against the Hawks, and that is 24 points in seven games, four less than what he scored in Game Two against the Wizards. It is good to know this Roy Hibbert was still in there. And there was certainly some relief for Hibbert as he embraced his college coach, John Thompson III, after the game.

Indiana did look to get Hibbert involved and that helped the build a lead. Washington showed it will not go anywhere though. The Wizards made this a close game and it took Paul George closing things to put the Wizards away. Marcin Gortat had 21 points and 11 rebounds and Bradley Beal scored 17 points for Washington. The Wizards uncharacteristically made only 5 of 21 3-pointers.

It appears the Pacers are going to make this a series. Of course, they have to string two of these performances in a row. A tough thing for them to do this postseason.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUlV0q4_CQ0

Remember when the Nets swept the Heat in the regular season?

Miami does not either. Those memories of any success against the Heat from the regular season might have been completely erased with a dominant 107-86 win in Game One of the teams’ series in the second round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

Miami looked refreshed from the time off after the team’s sweep of Charlotte. Brooklyn looked a bit beat up from its seven-game battle with a defensive-minded Toronto team. That is no excuse but it was clear at this point who was ready for this challenge.

LeBron James had another day at the office with 22 points on 10-for-15 shooting. Miami uncharacteristically dominated the inside with 52-28 advantage on the glass and an 84.6 percent defensive rebound rate.

Deron Williams and Joe Johnson each had 17 points and the Nets even shot 47 percent from the floor. That is pretty good against Miami. The Nets even hit 10 3-pointers. So maybe Brooklyn is not completely out of things. This is just one game after all.

But an impressive one game indeed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5RrqMVdosE

Rumors that the Pacers were anywhere near back are largely overblown. Roy Hibbert? Not even close. Indiana? Not dominant at all.

Hibbert failed to score and failed to grab a rebound. This is a guy who is 7-foot-2!

That was actually important in this game as the Wizards dominated the glass 53-36 including 17 offensive rebounds. 17! Against one of the better defensive rebounding teams in the regular season. This is beginning to make no sense. Or whatever sense was left after the Pacers’ utter collapse in the second half of the season.

Bradley Beal scored 25 points to lead the way for the Wizards offensively. Washington trailed for only one possession early in the second quarter. The Wizards opened as much as an 18-point lead.

Paul George and George Hill each had 18 points to lead the Pacers. A late barrage of 3-pointers were nowhere near enough as Indiana fell into a 1-0 hole again.