Heat beats Pacers 90-79 to take 3-2 series lead

Miami Heat's LeBron James directs his teammates against the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter in Game 5 of their NBA Eastern Conference final basketball playoff in Miami, Florida, May 30, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

MIAMI - A brilliant third quarter by LeBron James and the Miami Heat turned the game around and lifted the hosts to a 90-79 win over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday, taking a 3-2 lead in the NBA Eastern Conference finals.

James scored 16 of his 30 points in the third, helping to turn a six-point deficit into a 14-point lead and put the Heat within one win of a third-straight trip to the NBA Finals.

"That's what I came here for, to be able to compete for a championship each and every year," James said. "I'm one step away from doing it once again. It's not promised. It's not promised at all."

Another trip to the title decider - this time against San Antonio - was exactly what James had planned when he made the move to Miami.

"I made a tough decision. I envisioned something that was bigger as far as a team ... and we've got an opportunity as a team, once again, for the third year straight to make a trip to the NBA Finals."

Indiana was up 46-40 early in the third, surely sensing a chance to win and then close out the series on its home court on Saturday.

But over the next 11 minutes, the Heat outscored the Pacers 30-10, with James either scoring or accounting for 25 Miami points. He shot 7 for 10 in the third quarter; the Pacers shot 3 for 14. He had four rebounds in the quarter; the Pacers, as a team, grabbed six. He had four assists in the quarter; the Pacers had one.

"That's LeBron showing his greatness and making it look easy," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "His engine in that third quarter was incredible. He was tireless, he was making plays on both ends of the court, rebounding, covering so much ground defensively and then making virtually every play for us offensively. It's really remarkable."

James added eight rebounds and six assists, and Udonis Haslem made his last eight shots on the way to a 16-point night. Mario Chalmers scored 12 and Dwyane Wade added 10 for the Heat, who ousted the Pacers in six games in a second-round matchup last season and will look to do the same this time around, albeit one round deeper.