Miami advanced to the NBA Finals for the second straight season on Saturday with a 101-88 victory against the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals.
IT WAS OVER WHEN...
Dwyane Wade's three-point play gave the Heat a 12-point lead with 2:53 left.
SHOT OF THE NIGHT
Chris Bosh had three three-pointers and Shane Battier had four but the shot of the night goes to LeBron James for his 30-footer with 5:44 to play.
THRICE IS NICE
This is the Heat's third Eastern Conference championship and second in two years. It's the first Game 7 victory for the Heat since May 4, 2004 (against the Hornets). The Heat is 3-3 all-time in Game 7s.
RARE COMPANY
The Heat's Game 7 victory marked just the 27th time in 165 scenarios that a team has won a series after losing Game 5 of a tied series. It's just the second time in postseason franchise history the Heat has come back from a 3-2 deficit to win a series.
KINGS OF CLUTCH
Game 7 had 20 lead changes but the Heat used a 20-6 run over the final 8:48 of the fourth quarter to close out the Celtics. The Heat trailed by 11 points with 3:12 remaining in the second quarter. Miami enters The Finals with five double-figure comebacks in the postseason. The Celtics' 15 points in the fourth quarter was a series low for the final period.
NICE TIMING
In the last three games of the series, Dwyane Wade scored 31 points in the fourth quarters. He scored 106 of his 150 points this series in the second half and overtime.
30-POINT MONSTER
LeBron James had 31 points on Saturday with 11 points in the fourth quarter. He averaged 33.6 points in the series. He's the first person to score at least 30 points in six games of a series since Shaq in 2000 NBA Finals against Indiana. James' 11 30-point games this postseason ties Wade' team record set in the 2006 postseason.
DUNK OF THE NIGHT
It was either the Statue of Liberty by James in the fourth quarter or the alley-oop from Wade to James in transition in the first half. I can't decide.
BOSH IS BACK
Scored 19 points off the bench, knocking down 8 of 10 from the field. Made three three-pointers, a career high.
BATTIER'S BRILLIANCE
Four three-pointers by Shane Battier was one shy of a postseason career high. He's headed to The Finals for the first time in his career.
BIRTHDAY BOY
Udonis Haslem turned 32 on Saturday. He scored seven points and grabbed six rebounds in 38 minutes.
PROPS TO THE FANS
Great showing by Miami fans, after being called out nationally. More impressive was the respect the Heat's fans showed the Celtics when Boston's starters left the court with less than a minute to play.
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"Long. It's been a long 12 months."
--Dwyane Wade
YEAH BABY!!!!! CONGRATS' TO THE MIAMI HEAT..... WE HERE NOW... GREAT WIN....
Posted by: black the trucker | Sunday, June 10, 2012 at 11:35 AM
I noticed the Heat fans' reaction to Doc pulling the starters too, and it made me feel good. Two nights before, after one of the greatest performances in playoff history, LeBron James had beer tossed on him by a Boston fan as he left the court following the game. The disparity in terms of class is striking, even though nationally the Boston fans are celebrated while Miami fans are dissed.
Posted by: wizjinx | Monday, June 11, 2012 at 02:25 AM
where are all the haters at?!?!? you all had me entertained and with something to read here at work ;(
...we are not done yet
Posted by: eddie | Monday, June 11, 2012 at 11:20 AM