INDIANAPOLIS - Jeff Foster delivered a career performance when the Pacers needed him most.
With Indiana reeling from two straight losses in Miami, Foster had career highs of 20 points and 16 rebounds on Saturday night to lead the Pacers to a 94-83 win over the Heat and a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven East semifinal.
"It was fun, I haven't scored 20 points since college," said Foster, a five-year veteran. "We needed a win, and we got a win, and I was just able to be a part of it offensively, which normally I'm not."
The 6-foot-11 center spearheaded Indiana's frontline that figured to dominate the smaller Heat but had yet to do so in the series.
"He led this team," Pacers All-Star Jermaine O'Neal said. "A lot of energy and a lot of big plays."
O'Neal added 22 points and eight rebounds for Indiana, which exploded in the third quarter to get rid of the pesky Heat.
Miami came into the game holding a 23-rebound advantage over the bigger, burlier Pacers.
Indiana finally flexed its muscle in Game 5. The Pacers outrebounded Miami 47-30. Foster had seven offensive rebounds, as many as the Heat.
"Jeff Foster stepped in with the most important and best game of his career," Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. "He played a great game."
The Pacers outscored Miami 42-26 in the paint and 20-4 in second-chance points.
Game 6 is Tuesday in Miami, where the Heat has won 18 straight, including two convincing victories over Indiana that evened the series.
As has been the case all postseason, Miami looked like a completely different team on the road.
"It's kind of mind boggling to try to figure out what the difference was in the way we played," Heat forward Caron Butler said.
After shooting 51.4 percent in Game 4 and playing with boundless energy in its two wins in Miami, the Heat was overwhelmed in its sixth straight road loss in the playoffs.
"We weren't great offensively by any means, but the problem was defense," Miami coach Stan Van Gundy said. "We were pathetic defensively and I have to take responsibility for that."
Lamar Odom had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Heat but was far from the force he was at home. Foster harassed him all night, forcing him to miss seven of his first eight shots and rendering him a nonfactor for most of the game.
Dwyane Wade, who tormented the Pacers with dribble penetration for most of the series, finished with 16 points and 10 assists. This time, Indiana clamped down on the rookie and made it much more difficult for him to get into the paint.
"That was just what we've been trying to do the whole series - keep them from opening things up," Foster said.
Defensive Player of the Year Ron Artest had a lot to do with that, too.
The Pacers took a five-point lead into halftime, then put the game away with a spectacular third quarter.
Carlisle had Artest defend Wade, and it made all the difference.
Visibly frustrated, Wade scored two on 1 of 4 shooting in the third.
O'Neal had nine points and five rebounds, and Foster chipped in eight points and three rebounds in the period. Indiana shot 80 percent and held Miami to 31.6 percent shooting to take a 73-54 lead into the final period.
O'Neal and Foster fueled a 20-6 run to start the period, and the Pacers played with enthusiasm rarely exhibited this season.
"Our energy level was just 10 times different than it was in Games 3 and 4," said Indiana's Reggie Miller, who scored 13. "Hopefully we can bottle this and take it with us down to South Beach."[Last modified May 16, 2004, 01:00:38]
