The Pacers needed to be clutch and to win vs Miami Heat to keep playoff hopes alive. They got it done.

The Pacers survived against the Heat on Sunday

Apr 7, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) celebrates a made three. / Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers had to fight themselves before they battled the Miami Heat on Sunday evening. It was one of the biggest games of the Pacers season, there was a ton at stake for both teams. Between the seeding race for a playoff berth and a head-to-head tiebreaker on the line, this was more than the typical regular season battle.

The young, inexperienced Pacers had every right to feel some pressure entering the game. But they weren't showing it. They were confident and prepared before tipoff. The pregame music in their locker room was loud, and the Iowa vs South Carolina Women's NCAA National Championship game was on a TV in the corner. As players went through their pregame routines, they all stopped for a short glance at the score.

"I've been in a couple of situations like this before. It's really just another game," Pacers forward Obi Toppin told AllPacers before the game. "We've just got to worry about what we can do and how we can get this W."

Guard T.J. McConnell noted later in the day that the Pacers know about the standings, but every game has felt big to them in recent weeks. Their margin for error in the race for a playoff spot was slim after dropping tight games at home to Cleveland and Chicago in the middle of March. That margin disappeared after losing to the Brooklyn Nets last week. The Pacers know they need to take care of business every night, and this one was particularly important.

They had the proper poise and mentality early with Miami in town on Sunday. There were no indications that the Pacers were inexperienced. They were up 10-5 in a flash, then 21-12 not much later. It was an ideal start for Indiana during a game in which jitters and emotions played a big role.

Their advantage reached 11, then 12, then 14 before the first quarter ended. It was up to17 halfway through the second period. After the Pacers starters re-entered the game, their lead rose to 20, peaking at 22 with 40 seconds left until halftime. For a team playing in its biggest game outside of the In-Season Tournament all year, the blue and gold looked terrific for the first 24 minutes.

"We got a good start. The crowd was great," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said during his postgame press conference. "We got some momentum and were able to double down on the momentum."

Miami is a tough obstacle in a duel like this. The 2020 and 2023 Eastern Conference Champions have been in several big games across the last four seasons and have two mega talents in Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. Indiana was ahead by 18 at halftime, yet absolutely nothing about the game felt settled. The Heat are a machine and can quickly change the tenor of a matchup.

Indiana's work was far from done, and the second half proved it. In the early parts of the third quarter, the Pacers lead dipped from 19 down to 11. It reached 16 again only for the visitors to trim it slightly heading into the final frame. Miami's experience was shining. They raised their level on both ends of the floor and were making the Pacers uncomfortable.

That continued into the fourth quarter. After a short burst that had the blue and gold up by 15, their lead was down to nine — single digits — with 5:53 to go. That became a six-point edge with 4:36 remaining, then a two-point advantage with 3:21 to go. The Heat, who were previously down by more than 20 points, were cruising with about 200 seconds of game time left.

For the Pacers — who started the game well, had the right attitude, and had executed well for much of the night — this was a scary position. The game was hanging in the balance, and the blue and gold have been dismal in crunch time recently. Entering Sunday, Indiana was 1-7 in clutch games since the All-Star break, the worst record in the NBA.

With three minutes remaining and a much easier path to the postseason at stake, the Pacers were ahead 103-101. It was time for them to prove their abilities or fall under pressure. It was a chance for the young group to have a moment and mature.

They did. Indiana scored on four-straight possessions, including two finishes at the basket that came with fouls. Every free throw dropped. The blue and gold were up by eight points with 75 seconds to go — significant wiggle room.

The Heat didn't go away. Tyler Herro scored nine points in the next minute to bring South Florida's team back to within one point late. But clutch free throws from Aaron Nesmith followed by an intentional foul from the Pacers sealed the deal. No more shots were attempted in the game. Indiana won 117-115.

"I think we executed offensively," Pacers center Myles Turner said of his team's clutch successes. The big man knocked down two vital free throws with 17 seconds left to extend the lead, and he was brilliant all night — the 28-year old finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds in the victory. He had already notched a double-double by halftime.

"I liked our poise down the stretch," Carlisle said of his team securing a win in crunch time. He thought their continuous attacking was important late.

Carlisle also shared his belief that this game is a great simulator of playoff basketball. The Pacers, by earning the victory, control their own destiny to reach the postseason — they actually can guarantee themselves the fifth seed in the East if they finish the season undefeated.

"It's a huge win for us," Carlisle said. His team has been inconsistent of late. They have not won three games in a row in nearly two months and have routinely tripped over their own feet when an opportunity has popped up to string together wins. They can't afford that this week with the playoffs in sight.

Perhaps getting over their demons in crunch time will guide the blue and gold to the postseason. Maybe other teams stumble and the Pacers get in the postseason field naturally. Indiana is in the ideal position for almost any NBA team either way — they control their own destiny for the playoffs with one week to go in the regular season. It's all possible because they took down the Heat.

"Feels good. It doesn't matter how you get [the win], you've just got to get it," star guard Tyrese Haliburton said after their game. Their final three outings will now be graded by the same rubric — getting a victory in any way possible.

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• Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle passes Red Auerbach, moves to 12th in NBA All-Time coaching wins. CLICK HERE.
• Indiana Pacers survive a close game to beat Miami Heat in vital seeding battle. CLICK HERE.
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