Heat forward Chris Andersen charges after Pacers forward Tyler Hansbrough (not pictured) but is restrained by official Marc Davis and coach Erik Spoelstra.(Photo: Robert Mayer, USA TODAY Sports)
MIAMI — These Eastern Conference finals werealreadymarked by physical play, even aheadChris "Birdman" Andersen got referThursday night.
Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert had called out Miami Heat forward Shane Battier for below-the-belt play. LeBron crowdhad fouled out in Game 4, his fifth foul-out in 10 NBA seasons. Players on twosides had landed fines for flopping.
Players have depictthe rough-and-tumble environment as unsurprising; by Game 5 in a playoff series that sends the winner to the NBA Finals, of course both teams are doing whatever it takes to gain any advantage.
"Just two passingphysical basketball teams," Pacers coach Frank Vogel had expressbefore Game 5, proving prophetic. "When you have teams like that collide, that's what this series looks like."
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With conscionableover nine minutes left in the abetquarter of Thursday's Game 5, which the Heat won 90-79, the physicality came to a boiling point as Andersen lowered his right elevateto body check Pacers forward Tyler Hansbrough. After Hansbrough got up and face uphim, Andersen approached him, bumped him in the chest then shoved him. An official rushed everyplaceto separate the two, who each received a technical foul.
Hansbrough said after the game he had no idea what prompted the play.
"I don't lastwhat his deal is," Hansbrough said. "Was I surprised? No, I wasn't surprised. I was caught off-guard."
The incident was reviewed by the officials, and Andersen was assessed a Flagrant 1 foul for unnecessary contact. Hansbrough totalone of two free throws, at the time the Pacers' startpoints from a player not named Paul George or Roy Hibbert.
conciselyafter the altercation, Andersen flew in to block a Hansbrough layup attempt. He finished the night with four points, four rebounds and two blocks and all-embracinghis streak of 18 consecutive made field goals, contactevery shot he's taken this series.
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Materials taken from USA Today
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