Miami Heat puts away Boston Celtics in Game 7 to advance to NBA Finals

By Amy Shipley, Saturday, June 9, 9:00 PM

MIAMI — The Miami Heat didn’t merely win a second straight trip to the NBA Finals Saturday night. The Heat staved off a burial. With its 101-88 victory over the Boston Celtics in the decisive Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Miami made its most vocal critics sit right down, thank you very much, for at least another week.

Instead of trying to figure out whether LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh would ever play together in another game for Miami, the Heat will try to figure out how that trio can upend the Oklahoma City Thunder, which it will meet Tuesday in the Finals Once again facing the pressure of an elimination game that could have resulted in a dismantling of the franchise, the Heat looked cool and composed as it brushed off Boston late in the fourth quarter of a classic thriller.

Two nights after scoring 45 points in a huge blowout victory that kept the Celtics from the clinching the series on their home court, James roused the American Airlines Arena crowd by muscling in layups, slamming home dunks and hitting critical late field goals, one well beyond the three-point arc.

He led Miami with 32 points and 12 rebounds.

“It’s been a journey,” James said. “It’s been a long ride. . . . We didn’t shortcut anything this year. We said to each other, ‘It’s time. It’s time.’ ”

For the Celtics, the defeat brought sadness and a bit of nostalgia. It wasn’t just the end of a series, but also the end of a rich, celebrated era. There likely will not be another Finals opportunity for the NBA’s first big three, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. The trio, assembled in 2007, won one NBA title together in 2008.

“It’s probably the worst feeling that we feel in our lives, in our careers,” Allen said. “Now, there’s so much emotion. This one hit me hard. We wanted it so bad.”

But after hanging close with Miami for the first 41 minutes of the game, Boston couldn’t keep pace late. The Heat got 23 points from Wade, who tallied six rebounds and six assists. Bosh contributed 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting and eight rebounds; Shane Battier scored 12, all on three-point field goals.

Pierce led Boston with 19 points as Brandon Bass chipped in 16, Ray Allen, 15, and Garnett tallied 14. Rajon Rondo scored 22, grabbed 10 rebounds and handed out 14 assists.

“We had nothing left, that’s how it felt as a coach,” Celtics Coach Doc Rivers said. “Everything was front of the rim. We started throwing balls away. They started beating us off the dribble. . . . [It’s] frustrating as a coach. It felt like, ‘Let’s get away from them, let’s get away from them. We can’t let them hang around.’ And we did.”

Miami won the first two and final two games of this series as Boston won three in the middle. Two of the games went to overtime and only Game 6 was not close. James, who in last year’s six-game defeat in the Finals against the Dallas Mavericks largely disappeared in the fourth quarters, might have put a lasting stamp on his career with his otherworldly performance in the final two games. Tonight, he and the Heat stood tall in waning minutes; he scored 11 points in the final period.

http://news090.blogspot.com/2012/06/mr-rogers-gets-autotuned-in-garden-of.html

Another Game 6 dud from LeBron James?  Not this time.  

He wasn't going to let another season end in Boston. The Eastern Conference finals, and his chase of an NBA championship, are headed back to Miami for a Game 7.

James had 45 points and 15 rebounds, overwhelming the Celtics and leading the Heat to a 98-79 victory Thursday night that forced the decisive game.

"He was absolutely fearless tonight, and it was contagious," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "The way he approached the last 48 hours, and not only LeBron, but everybody else. Nobody likes getting dirt thrown on your face before you're even dead. He showed great resolve."

James shot 19 of 26 from the field and finished four points shy of his playoff career-high while playing 45 minutes, not sitting down until the victory was long secured.

After two days of questions about the Heat's future and his own history, James provided his response in resounding fashion in a building where Miami had lost 15 of its previous 16 games.

"In an environment like this, you want to have a big game," he said. "I wanted to be there for my teammates, no matter what was going on throughout the course of the game.

"This was a gut check for us, and it's good to see we were able to bounce back after that loss, after that Game 5 loss at home."

Dwyane Wade added 17 points for the Heat, who need a victory at home Saturday night to return to the NBA finals. And if James plays like this again, Miami should have no problem getting it.

"He played amazing. He was locked in from the beginning of the game like I've never seen him before," Wade said.

Rajon Rondo had 21 points and 10 assists for Boston. Kevin Garnett and Brandon Bass each scored 12 points, but Paul Pierce had only nine on 4-of-18 shooting.

In the site of some of James' biggest disappointments, the only disappointed ones Thursday were the thousands of fans who hoped to see a celebration but instead filed out of the TD Garden midway through the fourth quarter, just before the league MVP called it a night.

"He was comfortable all night," Rondo said. "We didn't get into his air space."

Miami barely won Game 2 before dropping the next three games, but this one was never in doubt. James was a one-man force on what's supposed to be a Big Three, carrying the Heat in the first half while Wade made only 1 of 6 shots.

The Celtics were hoping to complete a comeback from a 2-0 deficit, as Oklahoma City did in the Western Conference, and advance to face the Thunder in the NBA finals. But they missed 13 of 14 3-point attempts and will have to win a second straight game in Miami to play for the title.

James' season was twice ended in Boston while playing for Cleveland, the Celtics emerging as the winner in a Pierce-James duel in Game 7 of the 2008 East semifinals, then beating the Cavs in Game 6 of the second round two years later.

That was James' last game with Cleveland, leaving that summer for Miami and the All-Star help that Wade and Chris Bosh could provide.

He needed none of it Thursday.

He had 30 points by halftime and spent the night silencing the Celtics crowd and perhaps some of the doubters he somehow still has. He set the tone for the game by making 6 of 7 shots and scoring 14 points in the first quarter, and he made sure the Heat were never challenged from there.

"I hope now you guys can stop talking about LeBron and he doesn't play in big games," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "He was pretty good tonight. So we can put that to bed and go play Game 7."

Meanwhile, Pierce, whose 3-pointer over James was the biggest basket of Boston's Game 5 victory, missed 13 of 16 shots through three quarters, including all six 3-point attempts.

The Heat obviously weren't deflated by that loss and came to fight, scoring 10 straight points to build a 10-point lead shortly after Mario Chalmers was called for a technical foul after getting mixed up with Ray Allen. They extended it to 12 points later in the period, taking a 26-16 lead into the second after shooting 58 percent in the period.

Wade finally got on the board with a jumper to open the second, but he seemed strangely passive even with Miami trying to save its season.

No matter. James didn't need the help.

He had consecutive baskets for a 15-point lead and came up with a basket every time the Celtics tried to get any rhythm. He soared high above the rim ? and any other player ? for a follow dunk after the Celtics had crept within eight in the final 2 minutes of the half. Miami led 55-42 at the break.

James made 12 of his first 13 shots before missing from the perimeter on his final attempt of the half.

Only Rondo kept it from being a blowout, scoring 19 points and adding five assists in the half. Relishing the challenge, he even emulated Garnett by doing a couple of knuckle pushups after being knocked to the court while drawing a foul, but he couldn't keep up with James and needed some help that never arrived.

The Celtics, trying desperately for one last championship before the expected breakup of their Big Three, hope this one doesn't get added to recent series losses against Orlando in 2009 and the Lakers in the NBA finals in 2010, when they lost Game 6s with chances to win series and then fell in Game 7.

James' first basket of the third quarter increased the lead to 17 points, and from there it was just a matter of coming up with another score any time the Celtics tried to make a run.

Boston never came close, and when a 3-pointer by Shane Battier made it 81-63 with 10:19 to play, Rivers spent part of a timeout standing alone on the court with his arms folded, leaving it to the players to try to come up with an answer that wasn't there.

Bosh entered with 5 � minutes left in the first quarter of his second game back after missing nine with a lower abdominal strain, finishing with seven points and six rebounds.

Boston Celtics squeak past Miami Heat in Game 4 OT thriller

BOSTON – Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade's final shot of the game, a three-point attempt, hit the front of the rim, hit the backboard and did not fall in.

The Boston Celtics won Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals 93-91 in overtime.

"Red wasn't going to let that go in, you know," Rivers said of late Celtics icon Red Auerbach. "Not in the Boston Garden."

• BLOG: Video: Rondo takes shot at 'crying' Heat

• BLOG: Doc Rivers late to game after watching Tiger

• PHOTOS: Highlights from the 2012 NBA playoffs

You can believe that, or you can just believe the shot didn't fall. But know this: This incarnation of the Celtics refuses to fade gently into the twilight. Where ever they are going — perhaps to the NBA Finals, perhaps not — it will be with a fight.

So it was that Game 4 devolved from an offensive exhibition to a physical struggle. Star forwards LeBron James of the Heat and Paul Pierce of the Celtics fouled out in overtime, and six others finished the game with four or five fouls.

The best-of-seven series is tied at 2-2, with the home team winning each game, as it has been in the Western Conference finals between the Oklahoma City Thunderand San Antonio Spurs.

The Celtics-Heat series has been reduced to a three-game series. Game 5 is Tuesday in Miami (8:30 p.m. ET,ESPN). Boston still faces an arduous task. It must win at least one on the road. Only 14 teams in NBA history have come back from a 2-1 deficit.

"We haven't put together a 48-minute game yet," Boston forward Paul Pierce said. "We're hoping we can put together a full game in when we get down to Miami."

Facing pressure, Miami may be close to bringing back All-Star forward Chris Bosh. Bosh hasn't played since straining his a muscle in his lower abdomen against the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals May 13, three weeks ago. ESPN reported Monday morning that Bosh will be activated for Game 5 and would play barring a setback.

Before Game 4, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said there was no update on Bosh, who has been listed as out indefinitely.

Sunday's game will be known for wild swings: Boston had an 18-point lead that evaporated in the fourth quarter. It will be known for Rajon Rondo's 10 first-half assists, and James' three-pointer with 37.5 seconds that sent the game into overtime.

It will be known for great offense and great defense, for bad offense and bad defense and for two important offensive rebounds by Boston's Mickael Pietrus on the same possession, a scoreless Boston possession that took more than 60 seconds off the clock in overtime.

"An instant-classic type of game," Pierce said. "A good old class bar fight."

It will also be known for the two leading scorers fouling out. Pierce, who had 23 points, picked up his sixth foul 38 seconds into overtime. James, who had 29 points, fouled out with 1:51 left.

James sat at his locker postgame flabbergasted. In 794 regular-season and playoff games, James has fouled just four times - three times with the Cleveland Cavaliers. His last before Sunday was April 2, 2008.

"I don't foul out," James said. "If I'm going to foul out, that sixth foul, I wish I would have earned it, and it had actually been a foul on me. Whatever."

On the play that sent James to bench, he tried to post up Pietrus near the basket. Pietrus fell to the ground and James fell on top of him. Referee Joey Crawford immediately called the foul on James.

"It's very difficult because I know how to play the game of basketball, and I don't need an advantage of holding somebody or pushing somebody down," James said in the locker room. "But whatever, we lost."

Fifty-eight fouls were called, 12 of them on the offenses. It was not a pretty game. Boston dropped 61 points in the first half but 32 total in the second half and overtime. Miami shot 42.5%, Boston 41.2%.

"The play-calling was all over the place, as far as the refs," Celtics forward Kevin Garnettsaid.

Rondo gave another advanced-level seminar in point guard play. He carved up the Miami Heat's defense with another brilliant performance, dominating the game by directing an impressive offensive game plan in the first half. He finished with 15 points and 15 assists.

Spoelstra changed his lineup for the fifth time, moving Joel Anthony into the starting lineup at center instead of Ronny Turiaf. The lineup favors defense, as Anthony is more athletic and versatile.

It had been a productive lineup during the postseason. Entering Game 4, the lineup of Anthony, James, Shane Battier, Wade and Mario Chalmers had outscored opponents by 35 points in 80 minutes during the playoffs.

Miami also rode forward Udonis Haslem's hot hand. Haslem missed a tough shot at the end of regulation, but he finished with 12 points and 17 rebounds in 36 minutes.

"As the series is getting tougher, more physical, it's not a coincidence that I'm increasing (Haslem's) minutes. Same thing with Joel," Spoelstra said.

However, the new starting lineup didn't matter. Rondo notarized the game early with his unique imprint in the first half. The Celtics jumped to a 21-6 lead with 5:17 left in the first quarter on 7-for-12 shooting on three-pointers.

The Heat have no answer for Rondo's ability to create for himself and others, mostly others. He delivered precision passes to cutters near the basket, and when Miami's defense collapsed on him, he found open shooters, many at the three-point line.

Six Celtics scored in double-figures: Pierce, Garnett (17), guard Ray Allen (16), Rondo (15), forward Brandon Bass (11) and guard Keyon Dooling (10).

But leads — even Boston's early 34-23 edge — meant nothing. Boston led 61-43 late in the first half, and 65-49 early in the third quarter.

"Our execution in the first half was flawless," Rivers said. "It was as good as maybe we've had, and we completely got away from it."

Miami's defense gets credit for that. The Heat increased the defensive intensity as they made a push to get back in the game.

"You have to collectively be willing to get into the pit and get your hands dirty for however many minutes it may be," Spoelstra said. "Often times, it won't necessarily be pretty. Both teams defend, both teams get after it and you have to find different ways to come out ahead."

Wade again started slow but finished with 20 points, 12 coming after halftime. Miami cut Boston's lead to 73-68 by the start of the fourth quarter and took the lead for the first time, 76-74, on guard Norris Cole's layup.

However, it was the second consecutive game in which the Heat were down big early. They trailed by 24 in Game 3, which Boston won 101-91.

"We waited until the second half, which we can't do," James said. "We can't wait until we get down and then make a big push."

Both teams had chances to win it in regulation and overtime. After James tied the game in regulation, Garnett was called for an offensive foul. Miami called a timeout and ran a play for James, but as he began his move to the basket, three Celtics defenders prevented James from getting into the lane. He passed to Haslem, who missed a shot at the buzzer.

Rondo outscored Miami 3-2 in overtime.

"Let's lean on our defense," Rivers said of his overtime game plan.

It worked. Miami was 1-for-8 in the final five minutes.

"No one said this was going to be easy," Spoelstra said.

Dwyane Wade leads Miami Heat over Indiana Pacers to advance to Eastern Conference Finals Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/24/2816358/dwyane-wade-leads-miami-heat-over.html#storylink=cpy

INDIANAPOLIS -- This was Dwyane Wade’s very best — his Ninth Symphony, his Ulysses, his roundhouse, double-legged dropkick from the top rope.

In a rough-and-tumble second-round series that featured blood and flagrant fouls, cheap shots and suspensions, Wade delivered the final blow Thursday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

He scored 41 points in the decisive game of the series, leading the Heat into the Eastern Conference finals with a 105-93 victory against the Pacers.

Although the series was peppered with hard fouls and trash talk throughout, there was none of that in the final game. There was just a whole lot of Wade doing things that reminded all that watched of the 2006 NBA Finals and delivering a performance that will live forever.

LeBron James, who smartly deferred to Wade on a night that Wade could hardly miss, called his teammate “spectacular from the beginning to the end.” James was absolutely right about that. Wade’s 41 points came on 17 of 25 shooting. He scored 20 points in the second quarter alone, tying a Heat postseason franchise record, and also had 10 rebounds.

“All I did was continue to play basketball the way I always have,” Wade said. “Sometimes you struggle. So, I understand when it comes to offense it doesn’t always go in.”

Wade, of course, struggled mightily in Game 3, going scoreless in the first half and finishing with just five points. He bounced back from that game with 30 points in Game 4 but saved the best for the Heat’s close-out game.

James wasn’t bad either, finishing with 28 points on 12 of 23 from the field to go along with seven assists and six rebounds. The reigning MVP, James was voted to his fifth All-NBA First Team before Thursday’s game.

“These guys played at such a high level that I don’t know if anyone can beat them,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said.

Once seemingly on the brink of melting down in this series, the Heat finished off the Pacers with three consecutive victories, including two that came here in Indiana in front of a rowdy fans.

Those fans, clad in mustard-yellow “Gold Swagger” shirts, were frothing at the mouth at the beginning of Game 6. By the end, they could only clap in appreciation for their gritty team.

The Heat now awaits the winner of the Eastern Conference semifinals between the Celtics and 76ers. Regardless of the outcome, the Eastern Conference finals will begin on Monday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.

The Heat won Game 6 despite losing the rebounding battle 37-26. It was the first time this series a team won despite being out-rebounded.

With Udonis Haslem watching the game from an Indianapolis hotel room due to his suspension, the Heat’s sharpshooters did just enough to provide support for Wade and James.

Mario Chalmers finished with 15 points, shooting 3 of 4 from three-point range. Mike Miller, barely walking at this point, gutted out his best performance of the postseason. He was 4 of 6 from three-point range for 12 points.

“Mike Miller, he might be the toughest guy on this team to go through what he does physically,” Wade said. “Tonight he hit some big shots for us.”

The Heat led by 10 points entering the fourth quarter after a clutch three-pointer by Chalmers but the Pacers cut Miami’s advantage to five points with eight minutes to play. That’s when Joel Anthony delivered possibly the greatest offensive play of his career.

Fouled by Danny Granger in the act of shooting, Anthony delivered a tough basket inside and converted the and-one free throw to give the Heat an 86-78 lead. The play halted a 9-2 run the Pacers. Anthony finished with five points, three rebounds, two blocks and a steal in 35 minutes.

The Pacers’ final push came with a basket from David West with 3:45 left in the game. It cut the Heat’s lead to eight points but James responded with six points in a row to close out the game.

West led the Pacers 24 points on 10 of 16 shooting. George Hill had 18 points and Granger added 15. The Pacers shot 48.6 percent — a respectable number for this defensive-conscious series — but the Heat was 41 of 76 from the field (53.9 percent).

“That’s really the epitome of what a 2-3 match up should be in the playoffs,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/24/2816358/dwyane-wade-leads-miami-heat-over.html#storylink=cpy

Dwyane Wade leads Miami Heat over Indiana Pacers to advance to Eastern Conference Finals Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/24/2816358/dwyane-wade-leads-miami-heat-over.html#storylink=cpy

Dwyane Wade scores game-high 41 points, grabs 10 rebounds as Heat closes out Pacers in six to return to Eastern Conference finals

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/24/2816358/dwyane-wade-leads-miami-heat-over.html#storylink=cpy

BY JOSEPH GOODMAN

JGOODMAN@MIAMIHERALD.COM

INDIANAPOLIS -- This was Dwyane Wade’s very best — his Ninth Symphony, his Ulysses, his roundhouse, double-legged dropkick from the top rope.

In a rough-and-tumble second-round series that featured blood and flagrant fouls, cheap shots and suspensions, Wade delivered the final blow Thursday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

He scored 41 points in the decisive game of the series, leading the Heat into the Eastern Conference finals with a 105-93 victory against the Pacers.

Although the series was peppered with hard fouls and trash talk throughout, there was none of that in the final game. There was just a whole lot of Wade doing things that reminded all that watched of the 2006 NBA Finals and delivering a performance that will live forever.

LeBron James, who smartly deferred to Wade on a night that Wade could hardly miss, called his teammate “spectacular from the beginning to the end.” James was absolutely right about that. Wade’s 41 points came on 17 of 25 shooting. He scored 20 points in the second quarter alone, tying a Heat postseason franchise record, and also had 10 rebounds.

“All I did was continue to play basketball the way I always have,” Wade said. “Sometimes you struggle. So, I understand when it comes to offense it doesn’t always go in.”

Wade, of course, struggled mightily in Game 3, going scoreless in the first half and finishing with just five points. He bounced back from that game with 30 points in Game 4 but saved the best for the Heat’s close-out game.

James wasn’t bad either, finishing with 28 points on 12 of 23 from the field to go along with seven assists and six rebounds. The reigning MVP, James was voted to his fifth All-NBA First Team before Thursday’s game.

“These guys played at such a high level that I don’t know if anyone can beat them,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said.

Once seemingly on the brink of melting down in this series, the Heat finished off the Pacers with three consecutive victories, including two that came here in Indiana in front of a rowdy fans.

Those fans, clad in mustard-yellow “Gold Swagger” shirts, were frothing at the mouth at the beginning of Game 6. By the end, they could only clap in appreciation for their gritty team.

The Heat now awaits the winner of the Eastern Conference semifinals between the Celtics and 76ers. Regardless of the outcome, the Eastern Conference finals will begin on Monday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.

The Heat won Game 6 despite losing the rebounding battle 37-26. It was the first time this series a team won despite being out-rebounded.

With Udonis Haslem watching the game from an Indianapolis hotel room due to his suspension, the Heat’s sharpshooters did just enough to provide support for Wade and James.

Mario Chalmers finished with 15 points, shooting 3 of 4 from three-point range. Mike Miller, barely walking at this point, gutted out his best performance of the postseason. He was 4 of 6 from three-point range for 12 points.

“Mike Miller, he might be the toughest guy on this team to go through what he does physically,” Wade said. “Tonight he hit some big shots for us.”

The Heat led by 10 points entering the fourth quarter after a clutch three-pointer by Chalmers but the Pacers cut Miami’s advantage to five points with eight minutes to play. That’s when Joel Anthony delivered possibly the greatest offensive play of his career.

Fouled by Danny Granger in the act of shooting, Anthony delivered a tough basket inside and converted the and-one free throw to give the Heat an 86-78 lead. The play halted a 9-2 run the Pacers. Anthony finished with five points, three rebounds, two blocks and a steal in 35 minutes.

The Pacers’ final push came with a basket from David West with 3:45 left in the game. It cut the Heat’s lead to eight points but James responded with six points in a row to close out the game.

West led the Pacers 24 points on 10 of 16 shooting. George Hill had 18 points and Granger added 15. The Pacers shot 48.6 percent — a respectable number for this defensive-conscious series — but the Heat was 41 of 76 from the field (53.9 percent).

“That’s really the epitome of what a 2-3 match up should be in the playoffs,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/24/2816358/dwyane-wade-leads-miami-heat-over.html#storylink=cpy

Miami Heat defeats Indiana Pacers, takes 3-2 lead in series

The Heat’s grind-it-out series with the Pacers got a little less stressful Tuesday night. Miami coasted to a 115-83 victory at AmericanAirlines Arena in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 series. It was the Heat’s third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game.

The Heat can close out the series on Thursday with a victory in Indianapolis.

“We really have to commit to keeping this edge we’ve had for two games knowing we’re going into a hostile environment,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

LeBron James dominated once again, and Dwyane Wade looked as fresh as ever in what turned out to be a statement game for the Heat after a series of hard fouls. It all started with Wade facedown on the court in the second quarter.

Pacers forward Tyler Hansbrough sent Wade to the ground with a hard foul with 10:23 left in the quarter. A replay revealed that Hansbrough raked his fingernails across Wade’s eyes, drawing blood above Wade’s right eyebrow.

“Obviously, my face is not the ball,” said Wade when asked if he thought Hansbrough was making a play on the ball. “I think it was uncalled for because I had already been fouled once.”

RETALIATION

Hansbrough’s claw work marked the second game in a row the Pacers have bloodied a Heat player. In Game 4, Pacers reserve Lou Amundson gashed Haslem in the head with an elbow. The cut required stitches.

Apparently, Haslem had seen enough.

Less than a minute after Hansbrough’s flagrant foul on Wade, Haslem went after Hansbrough with what looked like a deliberate shot to the face. Hansbrough was in the act of shooting but it appeared Haslem worried little about trying to block the shot. Instead, he crushed Hansbrough with both arms.

Hansbrough’s head snapped back as he went to the ground. Haslem was whistled for a flagrant 1. From there, the Heat outscored the Pacers 83-58. After the game, Hansbrough said he wasn’t sure if Haslem’s foul was intentional.

“Check my rap sheet,” Haslem said, when asked if his foul was retaliatory. “I play hard. That’s it.”

PACERS IN PAIN

Pacers forward David West, who had 10 points and four rebounds, complained of dirty play by the Heat after the game. He said a Heat player “dove” into his knee at one point in the game.

“But I can take care of myself,” West said. “I don’t need referees protecting me.”

Danny Granger left the game with a sprained left ankle in the second quarter after landing on top of James’ foot. He finished with 10 points and his status is day-to-day, according to Pacers coach Frank Vogel.

STILL PHYSICAL

The outcome was long decided but the hard shots kept coming. Dexter Pittman sent a nasty elbow to the face of reserve Lance Stephenson in the final seconds of the game. Pittman was assessed a flagrant 1, but the NBA could review the play and suspend Pittman for Game 5. The same goes for Haslem and Hansbrough.

Stephenson is the Pacers’ little-used reserve who made headlines in Game 3 when he made the choking sign after a missed free throw by James.

“There were three hard fouls in this game, and the league will review them,” Spoelstra said. “We thought [Haslem] was making a play on the ball. This is a physical series. Nobody wants to make it into anything more than that.”

James led the Heat with 30 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. He has missed back-to-back triple-doubles by a combined three assists. James left the game with 4:19 remaining and received a standing ovation from the crowd. James’ early exit triggered the arena’s customary seat cover toss. White seat covers rained down from the upper deck as James lifted his hand to the crowd to acknowledge the applause.

James has scored 70 points to go along with 26 rebounds and 17 assists in his past two games.

IN THE GROOVE

Wade had another throwback playoff game, going 10 of 17 from the field for 28 points. He struggled from the free-throw line (7 of 13) but made up for it with vintage dashes to the basket and superb transition play with James. The Heat outscored the Pacers 22-2 in fast-break points and outrebounded Indiana 49-35.

“We want to continue to defend,” James said. “When we defend and rebound we’re a good team and it allows us to get into our break.”

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/23/2812856/miami-heat-defeats-indiana-pacers.html#storylink=cpy

LeBron James scores 40 points as Miami Heat evens series | NBA

LeBron James scored 40 points, with 18 rebounds and nine assists, and Dwyane Wade added 30 points as Miami rallied to even its Eastern Conference semifinal series against Indiana with a 101-93 decision over the host Pacers.

By The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — The coveted league championship, the one LeBron James needs to validate everything, seemingly was vanishing.

With 18,000 towel-waving fans roaring like the engines at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indiana Pacers had knocked the Miami Heat to the floor and to the edge of elimination from the playoffs.

James didn't panic. He simply picked up teammates and carried them to a victory.

And this time, Dwyane Wade helped.

James scored 40 points, with 18 rebounds and nine assists, and Wade added 30 points — 22 in the second half — as Miami rallied to even its Eastern Conference semifinal series against Indiana with a 101-93 decision Sunday over the Pacers.

Indiana had the defending conference champions down and couldn't keep them there.

"I felt like I had to do whatever it took to win," said James, who played all but four minutes of Game 4.

Game 5 of the best-of-seven series is Tuesday in Miami.

With All-Star forward Chris Bosh injured and back in Florida, the James-Wade duo saved the Heat.

"Me and 'Bron had it going," said Wade, who bounced back from the worst playoff game of his career — five points on 2-of-13 shooting — with a strong finish in Game 4.

"We played off of each other very well. We both were aggressive at the same time. That's beautiful basketball for the Miami Heat when we play that way."

Spurs sweep Clippers

LOS ANGELES — Tim Duncan scored 21, Tony Parker had 17 and San Antonio rallied in the final minutes to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 102-99, closing out the series 4-0 and advancing to the Western Conference finals.

The Spurs extended their winning streak to 18 games and their playoff record to 8-0, tying the third-best postseason streak in franchise history.

The Spurs could find out as soon as Monday night who they will play next. Oklahoma City leads the Lakers 3-1 in their series, with Game 5 on Monday.

Chris Paul had 23 points and 11 assists, Blake Griffin scored 21 points, and Eric Bledsoe had 17 for the Clippers, who blew a six-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Note

• Bob Boozer, a former Sonics forward who was in the league for 11 seasons, died at an Omaha hospital Saturday of a brain aneurysm. He was 75.

Boozer, who played on the 1960 Olympic team and earned a gold medal, had his most productive seasons with the Chicago Bulls. He competed for the Sonics in the 1969-70 season, averaging 15.2 points and 8.7 rebounds.