LeBron’s Buzzer-Beating Layup Saves Heat Over Pacers in Game 1 of Eastern Conference Finals

LeBron James recorded his ninth postseason triple-double (30 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists) and made a go-ahead layup at the buzzer as the Miami Heat eked out a 103-102 win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday at American Airlines Arena.

As expected, the opener of the Heat-Pacers series was an old school fashioned, hardcore match with lots of physicality going around. Both teams' defense were terrific the entire game, until the Heat leaned on their four-time MVP to deliver in crunch time.

James, who exchanged barbs with Pacers head coach Frank Vogel heading into the series, came through with two clutch baskets in the final 10 seconds of the overtime period, including a buzzer-beating driving layup to give the Heat a 1-0 advantage in what looks to be a very tight Eastern Conference final showdown.

After sweeping the hornless Milwaukee Bucks and exorcising their demons in another brutal series with the Chicago Bulls, the Heat entered their third straight Eastern Conference finals with their confidence at all-time high.

But the Pacers gave them a stiff challenge throughout the ballgame, keeping the Heat's explosive offense in check in Game 1.

The frontline duo of David West and Roy Hibbert were dominant early on while Most Improved Player of the Year Paul George had success guarding James through the first three quarters.

The Pacers closed the first half with a 42-37 edge, but the Heat soon erased that lead as they came out of the locker room sizzling hot, opening the first three minutes of the third period with a 12-2 run to take a 49-44 lead.

Indiana kept their chin up and made a rally of their own to stay within striking distance for the remainder of the ballgame.

The Pacers and Heat traded baskets down the wire, but the biggest basket of them all in regulation time came from George, who hit a bailout trey with seven tenths of a second left to send the game into overtime.

The intense atmosphere carried into the overtime period with George taking the scoring load for the Pacers.

James scored on a layup to give the Heat a 101-99 lead with 10 seconds left, but Wade fouled George while taking a shot behind the three-point line. The Pacers then seized a 102-101 lead after George knocked down all three shots from the foul line.

With 2 seconds left, Heat head coach Erick Spoelstra orchestrated a perfect play for James, who scored the game-winner at the buzzer.

West scored 26 points and George added 27 in their first ever Conference finals appearance of their careers.

The Heat, who shot 48 percent from the field but turned the ball over 20 times, took the series-opener but the tight result of Game 1 served as a reality-check that the Pacers are no pushover.

Game 2 of the series is scheduled on Friday (8:30) at American Airlines Arena.

Heat vs. Pacers [Post-Game Press Conference]