Heat scorch Bulls in OT, lead series 3-1
Miami Heat's LeBron James dribbles past Chicago Bulls' Ronnie Brewer during the first half of Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals series in Miami. Photo by Lynne Slakdy
MIAMI — LeBron James scored 35 points and Chris Bosh added 22 as the Miami Heat overcame an early 11-point deficit to beat the Chicago Bulls 101-93 on Tuesday to take a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
Game 5 is Thursday in Chicago, when the Heat can wrap up their first finals trip since 2006.
Dwyane Wade went scoreless for nearly 33 straight minutes, before making a jump shot with 2:08 left to help Miami keep the lead. And after James made a contested jumper with 29 seconds left for a six-point lead, Wade soared to block Derrick Rose’s layup from out of almost nowhere on the next Chicago possession.
At long last, it was over.
Bosh scored the first four points of overtime, and the Heat — now 8-0 at home in the playoffs — never trailed in the extra session. James closed it with two free throws with 1.4 seconds left, his 12th and 13th of the night, all without a miss. Bosh was 10 for 11 from the line, and Miami outscored Chicago 32-17 in that department.
The Heat made their final 24 free throws.
Rose scored 23 points for the Bulls, who got 20 apiece from Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer.
Chicago has lost three straight games for the first time this season.
