NBA Playoffs 2020: Bam Adebayo leads Miami Heat to Game 4 win and series sweep vs. Indiana Pacers

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Bam Adebayo vs. Pacers

The Miami Heat took care of business and swept the fourth-seed Indiana Pacers with a 99-87 Game 4 victory. 

After taking a 30-28 lead with 8:32 left in the second quarter, the fifth-seed Heat never looked back. They led the rest of the way, rolling to the first playoff series victory for a host of players on their roster. 

Off a four-point play, Indiana cut it down to six (91-85) with 3:32 left in the game but on the ensuing possession, out of a timeout, the Heat snatched three offensive rebounds before making those count with a layup. 

Here are the biggest takeaways from this sweep of the Pacers by the Heat: 

Bam & Dragic lead the way

With All-Star Jimmy Butler only playing 23 minutes, the majority of which came in the second half after leaving for the locker room six minutes into the game due to a shoulder strain, the duo of Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic did the heavy lifting for the team. 

All-Star big man Adebayo finished with 14 points, 19 rebounds, and six assists while playing a team-high 36 minutes. His 19 rebounds are tied for the second-most all-time for a playoff game in franchise history. 

He also had a couple of posters in this one: 

The other player to step-up was veteran Goran Dragic. He scored 23 points (13 in the 4th) while also finishing with five rebounds, and three assists in his 35 minutes of play. 

Three other players finished in double figures for the Heat - Tyler Herro (16 points, five rebounds, four assists), Kelly Olynyk (11 points, eight rebounds), and Jae Crowder (10 points).

In his limited time of 23 minutes, Jimmy Butler finished with six points, three rebounds, and two assists. 

Oladipo valiantly leads Pacers fight 

In trying to avoid a sweep, the Pacers battled hard but just couldn't keep up with the Heat in a defensive battle. 

Four of the five starters scored in double figures, led by Victor Oladipo's big game - 25 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and five steals. 

Myles Turner (22 points, 14 rebounds) and T.J. Warren (21 points, five rebounds, four assists) combined for 43 points.

Malcolm Brogdon chipped in with 13 points and seven assists but they struggled to score outside of the starting group. With their bench outscored 38-3, it was tough going for the Pacers.

Joy for the Heat, first round for the Pacers again

This was the Pacers' fifth straight playoff appearance and in all of them, it's either been a sweep or a seven-game series. In three of these five postseason appearances, they have been swept (2017, 2019, 2020).

Meanwhile, for the Heat, the win gives them their first sweep since the first round of the 2014 playoffs. It also takes them to their first Conference Semifinals appearance since 2016. 

Overall, in the five playoff series between these franchises, the Heat improves to 20-9 against the Pacers. 

The series was also the first sweep in Jimmy Butler's seven previous postseason appearances. 

Up next?

The Heat await the winner of the playoff series between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Orlando Magic, which the former leads 3-1.

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