Heat Drop 145 on Indiana, Leaving Pacers' Cup Path Narrow

Giannis Antetokounmpo posted 31 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists in 31 minutes, and the Miami Heat beat the Indiana Pacers 145-125 on Friday night in an NBA Cup group-stage game. Bam Adebayo added 27 points on 11-of-14 shooting for Miami, which has won two straight. The Heat outscored Indiana 67-46 across the second and third quarters. Klay Thompson scored 25 points and hit seven 3-pointers, his best output since joining Miami. He sits 55 3-pointers behind Ray Allen's 2,973, third-most in NBA history. Pelle Larsson had 18 points and Davion Mitchell posted a 15-point, 11-assist line. Indiana, which scored 42 points in the first quarter, was led by Quenton Jackson's 24 and Andrew Nembhard's 22. Jarace Walker added 14, with 13 apiece from Pascal Siakam and Jay Huff.

The Pacers suited up 11 players. Tyrese Haliburton is out at least a couple of weeks with a hamstring strain, and Obi Toppin exited before Friday's shootaround because of back trouble, acting coach Lloyd Pierce said. Pierce coached the game in place of Rick Carlisle, who attended his father's funeral in Ogdensburg, New York.

The result leaves Indiana needing to recover in NBA Cup group play. The event is in its fourth year, and every team reaching the knockout round has gone either 4-0 or 3-1 through four group-stage games.

The Pacers host Brooklyn on Sunday. The Heat visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday.