Pacers finish off Heat

MIAMI — The Indiana Pacers wanted desperately to avoid a pressure-packed Game 7 against the scrappy Miami Heat.

Ron Artest helped make sure they got their wish.

Artest hit several clutch shots and finished with 27 points to help the Pacers eliminate the Heat with a 73-70 victory in Game 6 on Tuesday night, snapping Miami’s 18-game home winning streak.

The Pacers advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000 and the sixth time since 1994. Indiana will have three days off before playing Game 1 Saturday night against the winner of the New Jersey-Detroit series, which concludes Thursday.

The road victory allowed the Pacers to return home without needing to win a Game 7. Indiana has won 15 of 16 at Conseco Fieldhouse — including 13 in a row and all five in the postseason.

But the Pacers wanted nothing to do with one all-or-nothing game against the young Heat.

Anthony Johnson made two free throws to give Indiana a 73-69 lead with 14.7 seconds to play. Lamar Odom then hit a free throw to make it a three-point game.

Artest, who had been 10 of 13 from the free throw line, missed two from the stripe with 9.1 seconds to play.

Rafer Alston, the Heat’s best 3-point shooter, shot an airball from several feet beyond the arc, and Reggie Miller rebounded just before the final buzzer.

The Heat had a better chance to even the score with 26 seconds to play.

Rookie Dwyane Wade drove for a layup to cut the lead to 71-69 with 47 seconds to play, and a turnover game Miami the ball back with 26.1 seconds remaining.

But Eddie Jones shot an airball from close range, the ball going over the backboard.

Wade got the rebound, but the referees ruled he was falling out of bounds as he tried to call a timeout. They awarded the ball to Indiana, and Johnson sank his free throws.