Kyle Lowry scored a season-high 26 points with six 3-pointers and the short-handed Miami Heat beat the Indiana Pacers 113-104 on Friday night.
The Heat were missing four regulars, including leading scorer Jimmy Butler, but compensated with 16-of-34 shooting from 3-point range, compared to the Pacers' 9 of 36.
Lowry was 6 of 9 from beyond the arc, 9 of 16 overall. The six-time All-Star point guard also had nine assists.
Indiana Pacers forward Oshae Brissett (12) pulls in a rebound next to Miami Heat center Omer Yurtseven (77) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. (AP PhotoAJ Mast)
Heat forward Duncan Robinson scored a season-high 24 points and made four 3s. Tyler Herro had 18 points with three 3-pointers.
Miami was ahead by seven at halftime and gradually added to an 11-point margin entering the fourth as the lead reached 20 points.
Caris LeVert scored a season-high 27 points for the Pacers, who have lost four in a row. Myles Turner had 20 and Chris Duarte 15. Domantas Sabonis added 14 points and 16 rebounds.
Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis (11) shoots in front of Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem (40) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. (AP PhotoAJ Mast)
The Heat came out firing from long range, making 7 of 10 3-pointers, with Robinson hitting the seventh and adding a free throw for a four-point play and a 30-17 lead with 3:19 remaining in the first quarter. The Pacers trimmed the deficit to 32-25 entering the second.
Gabe Vincent's 3-pointer from well beyond the arc put the Heat ahead 62-55 at halftime. The Heat had a 15-point advantage on 3s, hitting 9 of 20 while the Pacers made 4 of 12.
TIP-INS
Miami Heat center Omer Yurtseven (77) shoots over Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. (AP PhotoAJ Mast)
Heat: Robinson has scored at least 14 points in four consecutive visits to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. ... Butler (tail bone), C/F Bam Adebayo (thumb), F Markieff Morris (neck) and G Victor Oladipo (knee) did not make the trip. Butler, who averages a team-high 23.6 points, has been scratched in back-to-back games.
Pacers: Sabonis leads the league with 18 double-doubles. ... G Justin Holiday tested positive for COVID-19 and entered the league's health and safety protocols on Wednesday. The 15-game starter, averaging 9.9 points, had the NBA's longest active streak of consecutive games at 250. ... G T.J. McConnell (wrist) was also inactive.
UP NEXT:
Miami Heat forward P.J. Tucker, left, and Indiana Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon reach for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. (AP PhotoAJ Mast)
Heat: At Milwaukee on Saturday.
Pacers: Host Washington on Monday.