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James powers Heat past Celtics

May 10, 2011 - 4:18 AM Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Miami's Big Three made the big plays, including Chris Bosh's tip-in off a LeBron James miss late in overtime to ice the game, as Miami took a commanding lead in its Eastern Conference semifinal series with a 98-90 victory over Boston at TD Garden.

Boston's superstars didn't make the plays down the stretch, as Paul Pierce missed a game-winning attempt at the end of regulation and Rajon Rondo was clearly bothered by a dislocated left elbow.

Miami now leads the series, 3-1, with Game 5 slated for Wednesday in Miami.

Dwyane Wade scored 28 points with nine rebounds, Bosh added a double-double of 20 points and 12 boards, but the big star was James, who scored 35 points to go with 14 rebounds.

"Huge game, I looked it as probably one of the biggest games of my career coming into the game knowing what was at stake. I approached it that way, me and D-Wade had a lot of conversation after Game 3 all the way to the tip off today about how important this game is," said James.

Pierce had 27 points and eight rebounds, but Ray Allen was limited to 17 points and Rondo scored 10 with five assists and three turnovers. Kevin Garnett was limited to seven points on 1-of-10 shooting with 10 rebounds.

"Well it's frustrating because we had so many opportunities: you know, like I said, the fast breaks, the missed layups, the open shots, you know? And then not to execute a play at the end. That doesn't mean we win it, but we should've gotten a better shot. There's no guarantee you make the shot or not. So those things are disappointing," said Boston head coach Doc Rivers.

Miami scored the first six points of the extra session -- James and Bosh scored before Wade increased the degree of difficulty with a contested jumper for a 92-86 lead.

The Heat were up 93-88 after Wade made 1-of-2 foul shots, and Pierce responded with a strong drive and short bank shot. However, Miami iced the game on Bosh's tip-in with 24.2 seconds left and Delonte West's subsequent miss from long range on the other end.

Boston jumped out to a fast start, making its first three shots with Pierce's three-point play opening a 9-2 lead. The Celtics kept attacking even as Miami got into its own offensive flow, shooting 66.7 percent and getting to the charity stripe 11 times. Boston carried a 31-28 edge into the second stanza behind 14 points from Pierce.

The Celtics scored 11 of the second quarter's first 14 points to claim a double-digit lead. A running hook shot in the lane by Glen Davis and a jumper by West opened a 42-31 advantage with just under 8 1/2 minutes to go in the half.

Miami started getting out in transition with its dynamic duo, causing turnover after turnover. Two successive Boston miscues led to a Wade layup and a James slam, which pushed the visitors in front, 46-45. The lead was short-lived, as Pierce and Allen scored Boston's final eight points, including Pierce's step- back jumper for a 53-50 halftime lead.

Pierce scored 19 in the first half to lead Boston, while James led all scorers with 20 points and Wade added 14.

After an evenly played third period, Boston held a tenuous four-point lead until Miami jumped in front, 77-76, on James' drive and conversion with just over six minutes to play.

The teams then traded buckets -- Pierce stared down James and shot over him for a baseline conversion, and Bosh grabbed a loose ball and banked home a short shot from the block to regain the advantage. After two James free throws, Pierce drew the defense in the lane and kicked the basketball into the corner for West, who sank a game-tying trey.

Quick ball movement on Boston's next possession left Allen with a clean look in the same left corner, and the sharp-shooter didn't miss, burying the go- ahead trey. James answered, sizing up his defender and making a three to square the contest at 84-84. Moments later, he isolated Pierce at the top of the key and used the dribble to get into the lane, then utilized a ball fake to slip free and convert with 48 seconds to go.

Pierce tied the game after a timeout, driving left and finishing with the off hand. James committed a turnover, giving Boston a chance to even the series in regulation, but Pierce was forced to take a fadeaway jumper fading to his left, and it rimmed out to send the game to overtime.

Game Notes

James made just 12-of-28 shots, but converted all nine of his foul shots. Wade made 12-of-14 from the charity stripe, and Miami drained 25-of-28 overall...The Heat made 44 percent of their shots, while Boston converted on 42.9 percent of its own attempts...Miami held a decisive 48-32 edge in the paint and scored 10 second-chance points to zero for the Celtics.