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Heat on verge of series win
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo
Miami Heat's LeBron James (6) blocks a pass by Chicago Bulls Luol Deng (9) during the second half of Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals basketball series in Miami, Tuesday, May 24, 2011.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo
Miami Heat's Mike Miller reacts after the Heat loses possession of the ball during the first half of Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals basketball series against the Chicago Bulls in Miami, Tuesday, May 24, 2011.
Associated Press
MIAMI
Dwyane Wade was ailing, so LeBron James and Chris Bosh more than picked up the slack.
Then Wade found his groove at the perfect time, and the Miami Heat, the team put together solely to win championships, moved one emotional win away from the NBA finals.
James scored 35 points, Bosh added 22 and the Heat overcame an early 11-point deficit to beat the Chicago Bulls 101-93 on Tuesday night, taking 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.
Wade went scoreless for nearly 33 straight minutes, before making a jumper 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 blocked Derrick Rose’s layup on the next Chicago possession.
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.
THUNDER-MAVERICKS
DALLAS
Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd were told Tuesday to stay home and relax. The day after leading the Mavericks to one of their greatest comeback victories, and the day before they could earn another chance at their first NBA title, they deserved some time to lounge around and let it all soak in.
Dallas coach Rick Carlisle doesn’t expect his veteran squad to lose its focus after going up 3-1 in the Western Conference finals and getting a day off, but he’s not taking any chances. With Oklahoma City on the ropes, he wants Dallas to knock them out right away, in Game 5 tonight.