Heat top Bulls 101-93, move 1 win away from finals
MIAMI (AP) — The first 48 minutes of Dwyane Wade's night were unremarkable.
The five minutes of overtime changed all that.
And Miami's Big Three is one win away from playing for the NBA's biggest prize.
LeBron James scored 35 points, Chris Bosh added 22 and Wade perked up to block as many shots — two — as Chicago made in overtime, as the Heat topped the Bulls 101-93 in a scintillating Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday night.
Miami will go for the clincher Thursday in Chicago, where the Heat can wrap up their first finals trip since 2006.
"It's one game away," James said. "We're not taking anything for granted."
Derrick Rose scored 23 points for the Bulls, who got 20 apiece from Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer. Chicago has lost three straight games for the first time this season, and afterward, the league's reigning MVP pointed the finger of blame at himself.
"It's not over," said Rose, who shot 8 of 27 and turned the ball over seven times.
Still, some doubt may be creeping in. Chicago had its chances, and knew it, but was unable to take advantage of a largely off night by Wade. Rose was guarded in the game's biggest minutes by James, and the MVP from 2009 and 2010 had the upper hand against this season's MVP.
"It's extremely hard," Rose acknowledged, "when a 6-8 guy can easily defend you."
The Heat were down by 11 early, led for only 4½ minutes in the third and fourth quarters, and had Wade stuck on eight points from late in the second until past the midpoint of overtime.
Somehow, it wasn't a problem.
A sleep-deprived Mike Miller — whose wife delivered a baby last week — scored 12 points and made plenty of key defensive plays to help Miami outscore Chicago by a whopping 36 points with him on the floor. Udonis Haslem missed all five of his shots, and he was still a plus-25 in his 33 minutes off the bench.
And the stars, well, were stars.
"We know offensively, at times, we have rough stretches," James said. "But we give ourselves chances to win every game because we defend."
James was 11 for 26 from the field and 13 of 13 — his best playoff showing ever — from the foul line. Bosh was aggressive again, making 10 of his 11 free throws. Miami made its last 24 straight from the stripe, and the defense was again the biggest key of all.
"Defense is the reason that we're here," Bosh said. "Defense is the reason that we win every game. And defense is the reason why we have a chance of winning Game 5."
From the Miami perspective, this game will be remembered for how the Heat rallied around Wade — then watched him save his best for last.
"We reminded him in one of the final huddles, this is his time," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
The 2006 NBA finals MVP was in the arena late Monday night, trying to work on some things in one of his customary playoff-after-dark sessions.
Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. This seemed like it would be the latter.
Whatever answer he sought, he didn't find for much of Game 4. Wade made just 5 of 16 shots from the field, lacking his usual lift at the rim. He made a pair of free throws with 1:50 left in the first half for his seventh and eighth points, and didn't score again until overtime.
Better late than never.
"You could tell that neither team wanted to lose," Wade said. "Both teams were clawing. If you're a fan of the game, this was a great basketball game. ... This was will."
Chicago turned the ball over on consecutive possessions late in overtime, Wade turned the second of those into a layup with 1:01 left for a 95-89 lead, and the Heat soon knew they were one win away from the title round.
"Hey, they're a great team," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "They compete. They play hard. They play great defense ... and they made plays at the end."
The fourth quarter was pure theater, both teams clearly knowing — clearly relishing — the stakes.
MIAMI (AP) — The first 48 minutes of Dwyane Wade's night were unremarkable.
The five minutes of overtime changed all that.
And Miami's Big Three is one win away from playing for the NBA's biggest prize.
LeBron James scored 35 points, Chris Bosh added 22 and Wade perked up to block as many shots — two — as Chicago made in overtime, as the Heat topped the Bulls 101-93 in a scintillating Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday night.
Miami will go for the clincher Thursday in Chicago, where the Heat can wrap up their first finals trip since 2006.
"It's one game away," James said. "We're not taking anything for granted."
Derrick Rose scored 23 points for the Bulls, who got 20 apiece from Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer. Chicago has lost three straight games for the first time this season, and afterward, the league's reigning MVP pointed the finger of blame at himself.
"It's not over," said Rose, who shot 8 of 27 and turned the ball over seven times.
Still, some doubt may be creeping in. Chicago had its chances, and knew it, but was unable to take advantage of a largely off night by Wade. Rose was guarded in the game's biggest minutes by James, and the MVP from 2009 and 2010 had the upper hand against this season's MVP.
"It's extremely hard," Rose acknowledged, "when a 6-8 guy can easily defend you."
The Heat were down by 11 early, led for only 4½ minutes in the third and fourth quarters, and had Wade stuck on eight points from late in the second until past the midpoint of overtime.
Somehow, it wasn't a problem.
A sleep-deprived Mike Miller — whose wife delivered a baby last week — scored 12 points and made plenty of key defensive plays to help Miami outscore Chicago by a whopping 36 points with him on the floor. Udonis Haslem missed all five of his shots, and he was still a plus-25 in his 33 minutes off the bench.
And the stars, well, were stars.
"We know offensively, at times, we have rough stretches," James said. "But we give ourselves chances to win every game because we defend."
James was 11 for 26 from the field and 13 of 13 — his best playoff showing ever — from the foul line. Bosh was aggressive again, making 10 of his 11 free throws. Miami made its last 24 straight from the stripe, and the defense was again the biggest key of all.
"Defense is the reason that we're here," Bosh said. "Defense is the reason that we win every game. And defense is the reason why we have a chance of winning Game 5."
From the Miami perspective, this game will be remembered for how the Heat rallied around Wade — then watched him save his best for last.
"We reminded him in one of the final huddles, this is his time," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
The 2006 NBA finals MVP was in the arena late Monday night, trying to work on some things in one of his customary playoff-after-dark sessions.
Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. This seemed like it would be the latter.
Whatever answer he sought, he didn't find for much of Game 4. Wade made just 5 of 16 shots from the field, lacking his usual lift at the rim. He made a pair of free throws with 1:50 left in the first half for his seventh and eighth points, and didn't score again until overtime.
Better late than never.
"You could tell that neither team wanted to lose," Wade said. "Both teams were clawing. If you're a fan of the game, this was a great basketball game. ... This was will."
Chicago turned the ball over on consecutive possessions late in overtime, Wade turned the second of those into a layup with 1:01 left for a 95-89 lead, and the Heat soon knew they were one win away from the title round.
"Hey, they're a great team," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "They compete. They play hard. They play great defense ... and they made plays at the end."
The fourth quarter was pure theater, both teams clearly knowing — clearly relishing — the stakes.
