Lakers slide into 8th seed with win over Bulls

Given the way the Miami Heat are playing right now, it wasn’t surprising to see them dismantle the Indiana Pacers, 105-91, at home Sunday. It also wasn’t surprising to see Miami’s defense hold Indiana to 41-percent shooting while forcing 16 turnovers, most of which came in the first three quarters when the game was still in the balance.

What was surprising, though, was just how easily Miami scored. One could expect Miami to win a grind-it-out affair, but instead, their offense dropped 121.4 points per 100 possessions against the league’s best defense. Miami is a high-powered offensive team, of course, but the Pacers have stymied them twice this year and done the same to countless other high-scoring clubs.

Lakers 90, Bulls 81

Heat 105, Pacers 91

Want that in GIF form? We got you covered.

The massive slam delighted the crowd, especially a group of youngsters who were sitting courtside (although the blonde in the bottom right certainly does not look impressed):

And in case you want to see the video:

Irving has been brilliant this season when he has been on the court, but he’s had a bit of a problem staying healthy. He has missed time with a broken finger and sprained knee, and he has also battled through a broken jaw. This past offseason, he broke his hand in a practice that forced him to sit out most of the summer.

Irving’s injury woes go back even further than this year, as he also missed 15 games last year. And in his one season at Duke, Irving played just 11 games due to a foot injury. As great as the young point guard is, the Cavs have to be a bit concerned with all of these injuries piling up. It’s certainly a shame that the start of Irving’s career has been marred by these health woes. Cross your fingers that this one is not all that serious.

That’s what makes this “shot attempt” on Sunday, courtesy of cjzero, so bewildering:

We’ll just chalk it up to a senior moment.

Irving was clearly in pain, but he went to the free-throw line and took the shots one-handed. If he hadn’t taken the shots, he would not have been able to return to the game:

As of now, there is still no word as to how serious the injury is. Irving did not return to the game, finishing with 12 points and 4 assists in 25 minutes of action.

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• Ziller: Are the Nuggets championship contenders?

Seriously though, LeBron looks like he was shot out of a cannon on that play.

Basketball is all about keeping your focus.

Or, uh, doing that, I guess.

ORDER UP.

And send it on back, by way of Force push.

Chicago was ice-cold from beyond the arc, going only 4-for-16 from deep. The Lakers fared about the same, going 5-for-26 in three-point field goals, putting up a lower percentage at a much higher quantity than Chicago.

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(via The Denver Post)

• Are advanced stats good for fans?

• Ziller: Are the Nuggets championship contenders?

• Are advanced stats good for fans?

• Ziller: Are the Nuggets championship contenders?

It might have just barely grazed the bottom of the rim there, but, come on. Let’s not pick nits when you miss a free throw by a foot.

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The Celtics made a final charge late in the fourth quarter after Jason Terry hit a three-point shot to cut the game down to single-digits, but failed to cut into the lead any further. Boston scored only 14 points in the fourth quarter.

• Are advanced stats good for fans?

• Are advanced stats good for fans?

• Ziller: Are the Nuggets championship contenders?

Get your hand out of the cookie jar, KG.

• Are advanced stats good for fans?

• Are advanced stats good for fans?

• Ziller: Are the Nuggets championship contenders?

Behind closed doors, the Heat are ready to get revenge.

The extension of a 17-game winning streak is on the line. So too is a chance to finally beat the Pacers after dropping the first two games this season to Indiana, in Indiana. In fact, the Heat’s last loss dates back to -- you guessed it -- a Feb. 1 loss to the Pacers.

• Are advanced stats good for fans?

• Ziller: Are the Nuggets championship contenders?

The Pacers (39-23) are 14-16 on the road this season and are one of just five teams that Miami (46-14) plays in its next 13 games with a winning record. They have two wins against the Heat this season, also beating them 87-77 in January. Those games, however, were in Indiana.

Here are Sunday’s other NBA games (all times Eastern):

Utah plays 11 of its final 19 games at home this season. The Jazz face 10 teams in that stretch with .500 or better records. The Lakers play nine of their final 19 at home and also face 10 teams that are currently better than .500.

• Are advanced stats good for fans?