The Miami Heat won Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals 115-111, outlasting the Boston Celtics in overtime.
In a game of wild runs, the Celtics led by 15 at one point, but the Heat emerged victorious to take a 2-0 series lead. It was the biggest postseason comeback in franchise history.
LeBron James scored 32 points, adding 10 rebounds and 7 assists, while Dwyane Wade scored 23 points and Mario Chalmers scored 22. The Heat shot 10 of 26 from 3-point range, bouncing back from a dismal Game 1 performance. Miami struggled from the free throw line, missing 12 free throws in regulation and 16 overall.
Rajon Rondo put up the best performance of his career, scoring 44 points with 8 rebounds and 10 assists on only 3 turnovers. He played all 53 minutes. Paul Pierce scored 21 points, but fouled out just before the fourth quarter ended, leaving the Celtics short on scoring options in overtime. Kevin Garnett added 18 and Ray Allen scored 13 for Boston.
Miami benefited from some questionable officiating, completely missing a Wade foul on Rondo when the game was tied at 105 with 1:33 remaining in overtime. The Heat took the lead on the ensuing possession, one which they would not give up.
Boston jumped out to a hot start, taking a 24-18 lead and holding the Heat to 6 of 22 shooting in the first quarter. They extended that lead to 15 in the second quarter, but the Heat closed the gap to 53-46 at the half.
As they did in Game 1, Miami had a huge 3rd quarter, outscoring the Celtics 35-22 to take a 81-75 lead. After struggling in the first half, Wade and Udonis Haslem woke up. Wade had 12 points in the quarter, initiating a huge run by blocking a Ray Allen layup in transition. Haslem scored 7 points in the third, throwing in 6 rebounds, 2 steals and a block for good measure.
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But the Celtics fought back in the fourth quarter, going on a 17-5 run to take a 94-89 lead with minutes to go. Miami punched back with a 10-2 run, then Allen tied the game at 99 with a 3-pointer with 34 seconds left.
The Heat had two chances to take the lead, but missed both. A LeBron drive to the hoop resulted in a contested layup attempt that he rebounded. Taking the ball from the top of the key, James shot a pullup jumper with a second remaining that clanged off the rim, forcing overtime.
If the Heat lost this game, no one would have ever forgiven James for attempting a jump shot against the much smaller Rajon Rondo in the final seconds.
The Heat and Celtics exchanged baskets for the first two minutes of overtime, but after the no-call on the Rondo drive, Miami scored seven straight points to take control.
Miami's role players came up big once again. Haslem had 13 points off the bench and Shane Battier shot 3 of 8 from downtown.
In NBA history, teams taking a 2-0 lead in a seven-game series have won the series 94 percent of the time. The Eastern Conference Finals moves to Boston for Game 3 on Friday.
