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Miami doing better away lately

This was a derby match last season, but with James no longer at Miami and Stephenson no longer at Indiana, teams significantly declined in quality. We need to point out that they got unlucky with injuries as well

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After losing 10 out of the last 11 games, the Pacers won the three out of next four to go on and fall to the Bulls 92-90 home on Monday. It seemed Vogel's boys were headed into a bad defeat since they were 21 point down 35 minutes into the game (75-54). But, they did great to make a comeback (86-83). The Bulls responded in time, with Jimmy Butler's three pointer being the last points scored in the game (with one minute on the clock).

- We managed to defend the rim but couldn't keep it up till the end - coach Vogel said.

His team recorded a shooting efficiency of over 50% in each of the previous 4 games, which was not the case in any of the first 27, but the Bulls limited them to only 43.4%.

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- The last four minutes were all very different than the first 44. They got better in defense, leaving us with no response. We couldn't come up with the right shot - the Pacers' coach said.

Chris Coplean scored team-best 17 points from the bench in 17 minutes, while no other player managed to get over 11 points.

The Pacers are bottom table in points scored (94.5), which is no surprise given the fact they don't have a shooter that will score 20 points each evening. They're much better on the other side of the floor, but no enough to be constantly winning.

Despite sometimes doing really well, Miami Heat fail to stay consistent this season, both when it comes to performances and results, especially home where they have a disappointing 4-12 record this season. The last string 7 of home games, 5 of which they lost had a lot to do with that record.

Wade and company beat the Cavaliers three games ago to go on and ruin everything by losing to the Grizzlies and to Orlando.

To makes matter even worse, Miami finally had Bosh at their disposal as they met Boston, and even took a 10-point lead in the third quarter. They were 101-97 with minute and a half on the clock, but have not scored a single point since, with Wade taking and missing the shot for the win in the end.

- We were in the lead in the last quarter, but squandered it all away again. We fail on both ends of the floor in the key moments - Bosh said.

While recording shooting efficiency of 52.4%, Miami failed miserably in defense to allow Magic efficiency of 53.2%. Not even the fact Wade scored 25 points (7-for-14) and added 6 assists could help Spoelstra's team in the end. Granger did well too to finish with 21 point (7-for-10), while Bosh added 20 (8-for-17) and 8 rebounds.

- We need to find a way to win these kind of close games. We would prefer not even getting in a situation that would require that, but we when it does happen that we need to do well in the end to win, we simply have to be able to do it, especially home. This team has enough experience and should not allow such finishes, even though some new players joined - Wade said.

After finishing the string of home games with two consecutive defeats, Miami now travel to Indiana and then play Houston in Texas.

- I've seen our schedule and I can only say it will be hell. We could really use a new win, but we'll see - Bosh said.

He already met Indiana once this year (mid-November) to lose in a very unproductive game in Miami. Indiana destroyed coach Spoelstra in rebound, which will be one of the most important aspects tonight when Miami try and win their third consecutive away game.