Wade scores 26 as Heat get past 76ers in Game 5

Associated Press

MIAMI

Not easy. But over.

For the first time since 2006, the Miami Heat have won a playoff series — and, finally, can start thinking in earnest about another showdown with the Boston Celtics.

Dwyane Wade scored 26 points, Chris Bosh added 22 points and 11 rebounds, and the Heat advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals by topping Philadelphia 97-91 on Wednesday night and ousting the 76ers in five games.

Mario Chalmers scored 20 points off the bench and LeBron James finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for Miami. Joel Anthony made a pair of free throws with 16.8 seconds left for the Heat, who will face Boston starting Sunday afternoon in Miami.

It’s the first series win for the Heat since the 2006 NBA finals.

Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand each scored 22 points for Philadelphia, which got 13 from Thaddeus Young, 12 from Jodie Meeks and 10 from Jrue Holiday.

And like four of the other five games in this series, it wasn’t easy for the Heat, who saw a double-digit lead cut to one in the final minute before hanging on to advance.

Philadelphia had a chance to tie with 1:10 left, but Evan Turner’s baseline jumper bounced off the rim and James grabbed his 10th rebound.

Spurs 110, Grizzlies 103, OT

SAN ANTONIO

Gary Neal caught an inbounds pass with 1.7 seconds left and forced overtime with a 3-point heave as time expired, and San Antonio staved off elimination by stunning Memphis.

Neal’s straightaway 3-pointer was the second of two remarkable San Antonio baskets in the final 2.2 seconds of regulation. Manu Ginobili, who scored 33 points, hit the other with a long corner jumper while falling out of bounds to keep top-seeded San Antonio alive.

The eighth-seeded Grizzlies lead the best-of-seven series 3-2 and they will host the Spurs on Friday night.

But the Grizzlies will likely go home thinking they missed a knockout punch.

Zach Randoloph led Memphis with 26 points and 17 rebounds.