Miami Heat prevail in the battle of the East: NBA Eastern Conference Finals Roundup - Part 2
Link for Part – 1: http://www.senore.com/Miami-Heat-prevail-in-the-battle-of-the-East-NBA-Eastern-Conference-Finals-Roundup-Part-1-a71949
Game-3
With the Miami Heat playing their first home game of the Conference Finals, power forward Chris Bosh flared up a game-high 34 points as the Heat beat the Chicago Bulls 96-85 in the game-3, to secure a 2-1 lead. LeBron James posted
22 points, a game-high 10 assists, and six rebounds while Dwyane Wade had 17 points and nine rebounds in the victory.
The Bulls forward Carlos Boozer scored a team-high 26 points and 17 rebounds while Derrick Rose ended with 20 points on 8-of-19 shooting. Both teams played the first three quarters of the game with almost intensity but the Heat
found their way to carry a three-point, 68-65, lead into the final stanza.
Leading by 72-68 early in the fourth quarter, Miami turned it on behind Bosh, who scored next eight points to widen the Heat’s lead to 89-76. The Bulls however responded with a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to seven, 82-89. LeBron
again took over at the points and propelled Miami to a 7-2 spurt in the last two minutes of the game to again stun the Bulls down the stretch.
Game-4
With the Heat holding a 2-1 advantage and playing on their home court, Chicago had a tough task ahead in game-4. They however played out of their skins and matched the Heat throughout the four quarters of the game and took the
matters into overtime. The offensive battery of the Heat however proved to be a little too hot for the Bulls to handle as Miami topped Chicago 101-93 in the fourth game of the series and took a 3-1 lead in the series.
James led the Heat with 35 points, six assists, and six rebounds and Bosh added 22 points and six rebounds. Wade finished with 14 points while forward Mike Miller came off the bench with 12 points and nine rebounds, going 2-for-5
from 3-point range.
The league MVP Rose once again did not play his best, scoring 23 points on 8-for-27 shooting from the field. He also missed a last gasp jumper that could have clinched the win for the Bulls. Luol Deng and Boozer added 20 points
each while Boozer also grabbed 11 rebounds in the defeat.
Trailing by five points after three quarters, the Heat made a comeback in the fourth quarter. The man behind Heat’s charge was once again the usual suspect, LeBron James. The dazzling forward scored 13 of his points in the fourth
as Miami outplayed the Bulls 22-17 to tie the game at 85, extending it to overtime.
The Heat got off to a strong start in the O.T. and carried a 95-89 lead with one minute to go. Deng hit a pair of free throw to make it a four-point contest, 95-91. The Heat however went on a 6-2 run in the last 29 seconds to walk
away with the third straight victory of the series.
Game-5
King James and Wade were simply spectacular down the stretch, each scoring eight during a game-ending 18-3 run as Miami erased a 12-point deficit to defeat Chicago 83-80 in game-5. With this defeat, the Bulls’ dream of reaching
the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals for the first time since 1998 ended. Miami on the other hand won the series and set a date with the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals.
James once again headed the game with 28 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and three steals. Bosh had 20 points and 10 rebounds while Wade ended with 21 points and six rebounds for the Heat.
Rose chipped in with 25 points and five rebounds in the defeat. He did not score even a single point in the second quarter. The 22-year-old kept struggling with his shooting and was 9-for-29 from the field. He also missed a three
in the closing second that that could have sent the game into overtime.
Like the previous three games of the series, the Bulls played well in the first three quarters of the game and held a 62-57 lead, heading into the final quarter. Chicago and Rose however could not close the deal in the final minutes,
again.
Trailing by 79-72 with 01:46 to go in the fourth, Wade and James took the charge of the game. After struggling throughout the night, Wade initiated Miami’s charge with a four point play and then James took over. The rest as they
say was history.
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