2012 NBA Champions!

Heat Lose Game 4, Series Tied 2-2

Miami rallies from 18-down to force overtime, but comes up short in the last second

By David Hill
|  Monday, Jun 4, 2012  |  Updated 12:14 AM EDT
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Miami Heat Season

LeBron James hit the game-tying three in regulation, but fouled out in overtime of Game 4.

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The Miami Heat were able to force overtime in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but fell to the Boston Celtics in overtime 93-91, as a Dwyane Wade three-pointer did not fall as time expired. The series is tied 2-2, and will return to Miami for Game 5 on Tuesday.

LeBron James scored 29 points, including a game-tying three-pointer with 34 seconds to go in regulation. He fouled out of the game with 1:51 to go in overtime, though, depriving him the chance for another clutch shot with his team down.

Rajon Rondo scored 15 points, including a go-ahead layup in overtime, with 15 assists. Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 23 points, but he too fouled out in overtime. Kevin Garnett added 17 points and 14 rebounds to go with 5 blocked shots.

Boston opened the game with a 21-6 run en route to a 34-23 lead after the first quarter. Pierce and James each scored 12 in the quarter, but Boston appeared a step faster than Miami on offense.

The Celtics widened their lead to 18 during the second quarter, making 7 three-pointers in the first half. The Heat did not help themselves with 10 turnovers. For the fourth straight game, Dwyane Wade struggled in the first half, shooting 2 of 11. Boston led 61 47 at intermission.

But after halftime, the Heat began to play defense again, and Boston's offensive barrage evaporated. The Celtics scored more in the first quarter (34) than the entire second half combined (28).

Pulling within striking distance in the third quarter, the Heat got a lift from a reawakened Wade, who went 4 of 5 for 9 points. 18 of his 20 points came in the final period.

After James tied the game at 89, he drew an offensive foul with 21 seconds that gave Miami the last shot. But Boston flustered the Heat, trapping Wade and triple-teaming James, who was forced to make a difficult pass to Udonis Haslem.

Haslem could only muster an off-balance jump shot after moving to grab James' pass, and it missed the mark, forcing overtime.

Both teams' scoring slowed to a crawl in overtime, combining for 6 points. The Heat took an early lead on a Udonis Haslem dunk, but would be shut out after that. Boston did not allow either James or Wade in the paint for the entirety of overtime.

Rajon Rondo had a chance to put Boston up by 3 with 21 seconds left, but only made one of two free throws. In the final seconds, Wade took the ball from the top of the key and tried to penetrate Boston's defense. When that did not work, he used a head fake to pull Marquis Daniels out of position and give him an open three pointer for the win. But the shot did not connect, and Boston tied the series.

Udonis Haslem and Mario Chalmers each scored 12 points, with Haslem grabbing 17 rebounds. The series resumes at 8:30 Tuesday night in Miami.

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Posted Jun 4, 2012
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