Ambitious Miami Heat will take on confident Indiana Pacers in the playoffs first round. Here we look at the TV schedule and Match Preview for Game 1.
Advertisement
The one team that has come up strong in the 2019-20 NBA season is Miami Heat; the way they are playing has made them serious contenders for the Conference finals. However, the team struggled in Orlando as they managed only three wins out of eight seeding games which include a 114-92 win against Pacers.
Pacers vs. Heat is one attractive fixture, the fans will see the tussle between Jimmy Butler and TJ Warren, and the series is expected to stretch to the last game as both teams have been competitive and have immense talent in their ranks.
Read More: NBA Playoff Games Today: Magic vs Bucks TV Schedule; where to watch Game 1 of playoff series
Indiana Pacers have the winning momentum with them; the side will enter the match with a 6-2 record in the bubble. The two sides have met twice in Orlando with one win apiece. Pacers concluded the seeding games with a 109-92 victory over Miami Heat and will look to continue to the streak to get an early advantage in the seven-match series.
Where to watch Heat vs Pacers Game 1 on TV and Online?
The game is scheduled at 4:00 PM (ET) and will be available on the following platforms:
- NBA TV (Accessed through NBA League Pass)
- Fox Sports Indiana
- TNT
- Live Stream on Fubo.tv
it starts today 😤
🆚: @MiamiHEAT
📍: Orlando, FL
🕖: 4:00 p.m. ET
📺: @FSIndiana | @NBAonTNT
📻: @1075thefan
📊: https://t.co/vKGotPusnP pic.twitter.com/wueMxcwDcs— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) August 18, 2020
If you wish to watch NBA action on NBA TV, then you must buy NBA League Pass through the official site. Do check the free trial.
Heat vs Pacers Series Schedule
Game 1: Tuesday (8/18), 4 PM ET
Game 2: Thursday (8/20), 1 PM ET
Game 3: Saturday (8/22), 3:30 PM ET
Game 4: Monday (8/24), 6:30 PM ET
Game 5: Wednesday (8/26) TBD
Game 6: Friday (8/28) TBD
Game 7: Sunday (8/30) TBD
Heat vs Pacers Preview
If we look into the history, the two sides have met four times in the postseason; the first time was in 2004, where Pacers beat Heat in six games in the second round. After that, they faced each other for three consecutive seasons in the playoffs (2012, 2013, 2014) with Heat winning all three intense series, and we hope for a closely fought series in the Bubble too.
Jimmy’s contribution to Heat has been crucial, and he needs to put the team together to enter the conference semi-finals. Butler has played four games in Orlando, scoring 54 points and 27 rebounds.
Heat has been lethal from behind the arc. Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro, and Jae Crowder are the three-point shooting guys in the team and let Butler and Adebayo flourish inside the paint.
If the team can perform as a unit, then Pacers will find it hard to counter the Heat’s gameplay. Heat’s Rookie guard Kendrick Nunn will be coming off the bench, and Goran Dragic is excepted to be in the starting lineup.
Victor Oladipo’s form is a concern for Pacers as he featured in six seeding games scoring only 96 points with only one 20+ game. He needs to fire big against Heat and provide good support to TJ Warren, if the Pacers want to overcome the big Heat challenge.
TJ Warren has been the star performer for the side; the player has four 30+ games out of six played in Orlando, which include a 53 point game against the Sixers. Warren scored 12 points and five rebounds in his last match against Heat, as Jimmy Butler had his number all through the game.
While it seems like a balanced encounter on paper, Heat will take a lot of confidence from how they shut down TJ Warren the last time round.
The probable lineup for Pacers
Aaron Holiday
Victor Oladipo
TJ Warren
Justin Holiday
Myles Turner
The probable lineup for Heat
Jimmy Butler
Kendrick Nunn
Duncan Robinson
Bam Adebayo
Goran Dragic