In 2013, Paul George and the Indiana Pacers pushed the Miami Heat all the way, with the then 22-year-old announcing himself in the playoffs.
In Game 2, on the road, George went toe-to-toe with LeBron James, recording 22 points and six assists, while James led the Heat with 36 points of his own, including 21 in the second half, adding eight rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
Late in the third quarter, George and James traded buckets, with the Pacers swingman blowing past James and throwing down the monster one-handed jam over Chris 'Birdman' Andersen.
James responded immediately on the next possession, draining a deep three-pointer, before extending his hand to George in a sign of respect for their one-on-one battle.
"We're just two guys trying to do what it takes to help our team win," James said post-game. "He's really good. He's going to be a great one. His maturity and his game have definitely risen in just one year because of the opportunity Frank Vogel has given him."
The Pacers erased an 88-84 deficit in the final 5:25, outscoring the Heat 13-5 down the stretch to seal the 97-93 win and tie the Eastern Conference Finals at 1-1
The Heat couldn't buy a bucket late in the fourth quarter, making just one of their final seven shots, missing all four three-point attempts.
While George and James stole the spotlight, Indiana's David West came up with two clutch defensive plays, knocking away two passes from James, which resulted in turnovers in the final minute.
Watch the game below:
The Heat would go on to win the series in seven games, before beating the San Antonio Spurs in seven games to capture their second-straight NBA title.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its clubs.
