NBA: Plumlee jams James as Nets complete sweep
Brooklyn Nets forward Mason Plumlee (1) blocks a shot by Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) in the final seconds of the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, April 8, 2014 in Miami. The Nets defeated the Heat 88-87. AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
MIAMI — Mason Plumlee denied LeBron James a dunk as time expired and the Brooklyn Nets defeated the reigning champs Miami 88-87 to finish off a four-game season sweep of the Heat.
It marked the third time Brooklyn slipped past the Heat by a single point as the Nets remained the lone National Basketball Association team Miami has not beaten this season.
With the time running down in the fourth, and Miami behind by one point, Ray Allen grabbed a rebound and gave the ball to James, who drove to the basket and went up for a dunk.
But Plumlee timed his leap perfectly, contesting James’ dunk as the game clock expired.
A bewildered James looked over at the officials pleading for a foul but there was none.
Plumlee didn’t want to take all the credit for the victory.
“You have to guard LeBron with multiple guys,” he said. “I thought Shaun (Livingston) did great job on him individually. The guys also rotated help to guard him.”
Joe Johnson tallied 19 points, while Marcus Thornton came off the bench to score 16 points, six rebounds and make four steals for the Nets, who have won six of their last seven games.
James finished with 29 points, 10 rebounds and a half dozen assists for Miami, who lead the Indiana Pacers by one-half game for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Miami squares off against the Pacers on Friday.
With 61 seconds remaining, Thornton drained a three pointer from the right side and Johnson got a floater to fall to cap a 9-2 flurry to give the Nets to an 86-82 lead.
James drove for a three-point play at the opposite end before Plumlee made an easy layup. Chris Bosh’s dunk off a James pass got Miami within 88-87 with 34 seconds to go.
In the first quarter, Thornton capped an early 12-1 Brooklyn surge with a three pointer to give Brooklyn a 14-7 lead halfway through the quarter.
Mirza Teletovic’s trey and Thornton’s steal and layup during the final minute of the first extended the lead to 26-14 heading into the second.
Miami fought back. In the middle of the second Bosh finished off an 11-2 burst with a three-point play to cut the gap to 35-34 with 4:16 to go in the second.
The Nets led 44-43 at the break, but the Heat outscored them 22-18 in the third and held a 65-62 cushion going into the fourth.
Plumlee said Tuesday’s game was a like a playoff contest.
“The most important thing is this is game we were tested. We need that going into the playoffs,” he said.
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