NBA playoffs: 3 biggest storylines from Heat-Pacers Game 2

2. Miami Heat continues to shoot the ball well from long range

It is no secret that the long ball plays an integral role in Miami’s offense. During the regular season, the Heat were tied for sixth in 3-point shots made per contest with 13.4. They were ranked ninth in 3-point attempts with 35.4 per outing.

And from an efficiency standpoint, the team finished with a 37.9 conversion rate from behind the 3-point line. This was the second-best mark in the NBA behind the Utah Jazz, who connected on 38.0 percent of their attempts from downtown.

In Game 1, Miami connected on 13 of its 35 attempts from 3-point range, which equates to a respectable conversion rate of 37.1 percent. Their efficient shooting from the 3-point line was on display again in Game 2.

While the Heat attempted the same number of 3-point shots as they did in the opener, they connected on 18 of those attempts. For those of us who care to do the math, Miami shot an efficient 51.4 percent from beyond the arc, setting a franchise record for most 3-point shots made in a postseason contest.

The team’s previous high mark of 16 made threes took place in a Game 3 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2018 playoffs. It is also worth noting that this was just the eighth time in NBA history that a team made at least 18 3-point shots on 35 or fewer attempts in a playoff game.

If Miami continues to shoot lights out from beyond the arc, it is difficult to foresee a scenario in which this team doesn’t advance to the next round.