Heat seals win over Celtics; Thunder go ahead

The Miami Heat’s LeBron James hugs Dwyane Wade after Miami defeated Boston 97-87 in the fifth game of their NBA playoff series at American Airlines Arena, in Miami, Wednesday. [AP/YONHAP]

MIAMI - Using a 16-0 run to end the game, the Miami Heat beat the Boston Celtics 97-87 on Wednesday to win the series 4-1 and take a spot in the NBA Eastern Conference finals.

Dwyane Wade scored 34 points and LeBron James put the Heat up for good with a 3-pointer with 2:10 left on the way to a 33-point effort.

James added a series-sealing 3-pointer with 40.4 seconds left.

A steal and two-handed slam 6 seconds later for good measure, followed by a Celtics turnover, got the party started. It was over, the Heat and Celtics knew it and Boston coach Doc Rivers stood silently near the bench, his arms folded across his chest as James ran down the clock on Miami’s final offensive possession of the series.

Boston was thoroughly worn down by a younger, more athletic opponent. The Celtics won the first three meetings between the clubs this season, then lost five of the final six.

Miami took another step on delivering on the massive pre-season investment that attracted James and Chris Bosh to join Wade in an intimidating lineup.

Next up will be either Chicago or Atlanta, in a series that may start as early as Sunday. Chicago leads the series 3-2.

“It’s a great team,’’ James said of the Celtics. “I got the utmost respect for that team. They’re the reason why all three of us came together, is because of what they did, that blueprint they had in ’08 when they all came together.’’

Bosh finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds, including head-faking his way past Kevin Garnett for a game-tying dunk with 2:57 left.

The rest was up to James. He scored the game’s final 10 points, putting to rest talk that he couldn’t be effective late in games.

“I never even got to all that with [what] everybody was saying about me in late-game situations,’’ James said. “I know what I work hard for, and that’s to be put in those positions. My coaching staff gave me a lot of confidence. Teammates kept giving me confidence, and happy to bring it home.’’

It’s Miami’s fourth trip to the East finals, its first since 2006.

In Oklahoma City, the hosts blitzed Memphis to take their first lead in this series, three games to two.

Kevin Durant scored 19 points and reserve Daequan Cook added 18 for the Thunder, who won comfortably after the triple-overtime effort in the previous game.

Marc Gasol had 16 points to lead Memphis, which matched its lowest points total from the regular season and played like it was still drained from the emotional overtime loss.

The Grizzlies shot a season-worst 36 percent and were far enough behind that Durant and Thunder teammate Russell Westbrook were rested in the fourth quarter.

“We played great defense. Everyone was in tune, locked in,’’ Durant said. “It was a group effort.’’

Gasol did most of his damage during a 6-minute stretch in the third quarter. Then the Grizzlies fell hopelessly behind.

Oklahoma City’s Nick Collison turned a rebound into a three-point play. When he converted the free throw, it completed a string of seven straight points by the Thunder to bump the lead to 65-46 late in the third quarter.

Memphis didn’t stand a chance of a comeback. Too many missed layups. Too many short shots that clanked off the front rim. Too little energy left.

AP

한글 관련 기사 [연합]
-NBA- 제임스 35점…마이애미 결승 눈앞

'킹' 르브론 제임스가 35점을 몰아친 마이애미 히트가 3승째를 거두면서 2010-2011 미국프로농구(NBA) 동부 콘퍼런스 결승행 티켓을 눈앞에 뒀다.

마이애미는 10일(한국시간) 미국 마이애미주 보스턴의 TD가든에서 치러진 NBA 4강 플레이오프(7전4선승제) 4차전에서 연장 접전 끝에 보스턴 셀틱을 98-90으로 꺾었다.

제임스가 35점-14리바운드의 더블더블 활약을 펼친 가운데 드웨인 웨이드(28점·9리바운드)와 크리스 보쉬(20점·12리바운드)가 득점에 가세해 기분 좋은 연장전 승리를 이끌었다.

1, 2차전에서 연승을 거두고 3차전에서 보스턴에 첫 승리를 내준 마이애미는 3쿼터까지 69-73으로 밀리면서 위태로운 승부를 펼쳤다.

마이애미는 4쿼터 종료 5분 13초를 남기고 보쉬의 레이업슛으로 79-78로 경기를 뒤집었고, 연이어 제임스의 자유투 두 발을 모두 꽂아 81-78로 달아났다.

하지만 보스턴은 델론테 웨스트가 3점포를 터트려 재동점을 만들고, 4쿼터 종료 41초를 남긴 상황에서 폴 피어스의 레이업 슛이 터져 86-86 동점으로 4쿼터를 끝내 연장 승부에 들어갔다.

연장전 시작과 함께 제임스의 외곽포가 불을 뿜은 마이애미는 곧바로 제임스의 어시스트를 받은 보쉬의 레이업이 작렬하며 점수 차를 벌렸다.

마이애미는 연장 막판 93-90까지 턱밑 추격을 허용했지만 연장전 종료 25초를 남기고 던진 제임스의 3점슛이 림을 맞고 벗어나는 순간 보쉬가 재치있는 팁슛으로 득점에 성공하고, 웨이드가 자유투로 3점을 보태면서 98-90 승리를 완성했다.

한편, 오클라호마시티 선더는 멤피스 그리즐리스와의 서부 콘퍼런스 4강 PO 4차전에서 3차 연장까지 펼치는 접전 끝에 133-123으로 이겼다.

1승2패로 밀렸던 오클라호마시티는 40점을 폭발한 러셀 웨스트브룩의 활약에 힘입어 10점차 승리를 챙기고 2승2패를 만들면서 승부를 원점으로 돌렸다.

오클라호마시티는 4쿼터 종료 3초를 남기고 96-93으로 앞서 승리를 예고했지만 멤피스의 마이크 콘레이에게 3점포를 얻어맞아 동점을 내주고 연장전에 돌입했다.

1차 연장에서 13점씩 나눠 넣어 승부를 내지 못한 두 팀은 2차 연장에서도 똑같이 10득점 하면서 피 말리는 3차 연장에 들어갔다.

오클라호마시티는 3차 연장에서 멤피스의 득점을 4점으로 틀어막고 14점을 몰아치면서 힘겹게 홈 팬들에게 기분 좋은 승리를 선물했다.