Jimmy Butler shines against depleted Pacers in Heat’s Game 1 win

Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat played up to the task, taking Game 1 over the Indiana Pacers.

Talent is the name of the game in the NBA Playoffs, and the Miami Heat had the advantage in that department. The Indiana Pacers began the season restart without Domantas Sabonis, and played the majority of this game without their other All-Star, Victor Oladipo. Oladipo left the game midway through the first quarter with an eye injury after colliding with Jae Crowder.

That was more than enough to sway the game in Miami’s favor. Indiana fought and clawed its way through this game, but in the end the (South) Beach Boys closed it out.

Here’s what you missed from Pacers-Heat Game 1

MVP: Jimmy Butler

Did you expect anyone else? Jimmy Butler talked the talk back in January, but he also walked the walk when it counted. He finished with 28 points, four assists and four steals on 8-of-15 shooting, and was especially awesome down the stretch of this game.

We’ve seen “Playoff Jimmy” before, but his success from downtown was especially impressive. After hitting just 24.4 percent of his 3-point attempts all season, Butler hit two of them in a 57-second span to put the Pacers away.

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Unsung hero: Pacers’ bench

Indiana needed someone to step up in Oladipo’s absence, and the reserves did just enough to keep the game tight. T.J. McConnell provided five points and three assists with his typical grit, Justin Holiday hit all three of his 3s, and JaKarr Sampson (yes, that JaKarr Sampson) had 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting while holding his own at the 5. Holiday and Sampson were effectively neutral in their minutes, which was crucial for a team devoid of high-end talent.

Head coach Nate McMillan has to be relieved with how this played out, as he now has clarity on who he can trust going forward. Holiday stepped into the void Oladipo left and was exactly what Indiana needed him to be. In addition, if Sampson can continue to survive against Miami’s bigs, the rough play of Myles Turner becomes much easier to stomach.

Strategic advantage: Starting Goran Dragic

Kendrick Nunn started 67 games and played 1,962 minutes for the Heat this season. But when the playoffs rolled around, head coach Erik Spoelstra had no fear of shaking things up.

Starting the veteran Dragic, who had appeared in 35 playoff games prior to this season, reaped benefits immediately. His dexterity in the pick-and-roll proved useful against a smaller Pacers lineup, as he got everyone from Butler to Kelly Olynyk involved offensively.

Before Butler closed the doors on this game, Dragic fended off that pesky Pacers bench, scoring 10 points in the early part of the fourth quarter. The Slovenian savant finished with 24 points, six rebounds, five assists and the second-highest plus-minus on the team (plus-20).

The Pacers won’t be an easy out; they’re potent offensively with T.J. Warren at the 4, and most McMillan-led teams punch above their weight defensively. But the Heat have superior talent, the right hierarchy to utilize that talent and good enough coaching to keep the Pacers at bay, with or without Oladipo.

Game 2 tips off Thursday at 1:00 p.m. ET.