2011 NBA Playoffs; Wade, James Power Heat over Celtics
Boston was feeling pretty comfortable. They were playing well against the Miami Heat, with a halftime lead, and even 23 points from Dwyane Wade couldn't give the Heat a halftime lead.
In the second half, Wade didn't play as well.
He got a boost.
Wade scored 34, LeBron James scored 33 as the Heat beat the Celtics 97-87 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. James made huge back-to-back triples to seal the game. They will play the winner of the Chicago-Atlanta series.
The Celtics led by as much as ten during the game, but the Heat fought back. Early in the game, with the Heat down 20-12, Wade grabbed a rebound, put up a crazy left-handed floater as he was falling, and made the basket.
Still, that wasn't enough. Boston's early 26-16 lead sent doubt into the Heat and their fans, but the team recovered. Wade scored 12 in quarter two as the Heat cut the halftime deficit to 49-47.
In the third, Mike Bibby and Juwan Howard scored, with Howard draining a pair of free throws and Bibby knocking down a three. Their efforts helped Miami take their first lead since 4-2 late in the third.
Then, big play madness started. Ray Allen drained a fadeaway three from the left wing to give the lead back to Boston, but LeBron answered by knocking down one of his own, from the right wing. After Jeff Green hit another three to give Boston the lead, Wade went to the hoop and scored a dunk. Boston led 73-71 after this quarter.
The Celtics dominated the early part of the final quarter, and with just over four minutes left, they led 87-81. But the Heat came back, and James Jones' three made it an 87-85 game. When Chris Bosh dunked on the C's, the game was tied.
In the final 4:28, Miami's defense was spectacular. They allowed no points, and changed an 87-81 deficit into a 97-87 win. Boston had chances, but they couldn't capitalize. James was huge in the final minutes.
James had the ball near the left corner with a defender on him. The score was 87-87, and about 2:10 or 2:15 remained. James wanted to play hero, so he lofted up a three. It looked like it would hit the back rim, but it curved into the basket!
With about a minute left, Paul Pierce had the ball. He tried to throw the ball across the court to Kevin Garnett, and he threw a good pass, but there was a problem. Garnett dropped the pass!
On the ensuing play, the Heat had momentum. James had Pierce on him on the left wing, but that didn't matter. James lofted up another three, and although it wasn't as pretty as the first, it still went in, and killed the C's.
Two more baskets by LeBron, and the game was over. Miami had shocked the Celtics!
If the Heat can dominate the Celtics like this, the Bulls better watch out.
In the second half, Wade didn't play as well.
He got a boost.
Wade scored 34, LeBron James scored 33 as the Heat beat the Celtics 97-87 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. James made huge back-to-back triples to seal the game. They will play the winner of the Chicago-Atlanta series.
The Celtics led by as much as ten during the game, but the Heat fought back. Early in the game, with the Heat down 20-12, Wade grabbed a rebound, put up a crazy left-handed floater as he was falling, and made the basket.
Still, that wasn't enough. Boston's early 26-16 lead sent doubt into the Heat and their fans, but the team recovered. Wade scored 12 in quarter two as the Heat cut the halftime deficit to 49-47.
In the third, Mike Bibby and Juwan Howard scored, with Howard draining a pair of free throws and Bibby knocking down a three. Their efforts helped Miami take their first lead since 4-2 late in the third.
Then, big play madness started. Ray Allen drained a fadeaway three from the left wing to give the lead back to Boston, but LeBron answered by knocking down one of his own, from the right wing. After Jeff Green hit another three to give Boston the lead, Wade went to the hoop and scored a dunk. Boston led 73-71 after this quarter.
The Celtics dominated the early part of the final quarter, and with just over four minutes left, they led 87-81. But the Heat came back, and James Jones' three made it an 87-85 game. When Chris Bosh dunked on the C's, the game was tied.
In the final 4:28, Miami's defense was spectacular. They allowed no points, and changed an 87-81 deficit into a 97-87 win. Boston had chances, but they couldn't capitalize. James was huge in the final minutes.
James had the ball near the left corner with a defender on him. The score was 87-87, and about 2:10 or 2:15 remained. James wanted to play hero, so he lofted up a three. It looked like it would hit the back rim, but it curved into the basket!
With about a minute left, Paul Pierce had the ball. He tried to throw the ball across the court to Kevin Garnett, and he threw a good pass, but there was a problem. Garnett dropped the pass!
On the ensuing play, the Heat had momentum. James had Pierce on him on the left wing, but that didn't matter. James lofted up another three, and although it wasn't as pretty as the first, it still went in, and killed the C's.
Two more baskets by LeBron, and the game was over. Miami had shocked the Celtics!
If the Heat can dominate the Celtics like this, the Bulls better watch out.
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