Basketball

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Heat wave melts Indy

Wade leads way into East final

By: Paul Newberry

Posted: 05/25/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

Darron Cummings / The Associated Press Miami�s LeBron James (right) goes to the basket against Indiana�s Danny Granger Thursday. James had 28 points. (CP)

INDIANAPOLIS -- Miami's Big Two was more than enough to finish off the Indiana Pacers.

Dwyane Wade and LeBron James turned around a season on the brink with perhaps the most remarkable week of their high-powered partnership, capped off by a 105-93 victory in Game 6 Thursday night that sent the Heat back to the Eastern Conference finals.

Wade scored 41 points, James had 28 and Miami wrapped up the series 4-2, advancing to face either Boston or Philadelphia.

But this was about more than one game.

This was a dazzling trilogy, Wade and James taking control when the Heat were down and looked like they might be out.

"In the regular season, we've had some good games," Wade said. "But I don't know if we've ever had three in a row like that in the playoffs."

Seven days earlier, Miami trailed 2-1 in the series after getting routed 94-75 in Indianapolis. The fired-up Pacers had another game on their home court and a chance to build a commanding lead.

Instead, the Big Three-Turned-Two took over.

With Chris Bosh sidelined by an abdominal injury, James and Wade soared to new heights in their two-man game. Over the course of three dazzling games, James scored 98 points, grabbed 34 rebounds and dished out 24 assists. Wade had 99 points, 22 rebounds and 11 assists.

"Ever since Game 3, they've played at such a high level," Indiana coach Frank Vogel said. "I don't know if anybody can beat them."

Next up, either the Celtics or 76ers in a series that starts Monday in Miami. Of course, nothing less than an NBA title will make for a satisfying summer in South Beach.

Two series down, two to go.

The Heat rallied from an early 11-point deficit, riding the hot hand of Wade in the opening half. He scored 26 points by the break, tying Tim Hardaway's 16-year-old franchise record for most playoff points in the first two quarters. James hit consecutive baskets with just over a minute remaining to close it out.

"We understand that when Chris went out, we had to step up," Wade said. "The team looked to us to lead."

The banged-up Heat will get a chance to relax a couple of days before worrying about the next opponent, which will be determined in Game 7 at Boston on Saturday.

Bosh hopes to return at some point, but it might not matter.

Not the way Wade and James are playing.

"Chris Bosh is an awesome basketball player, but when he goes down, that just means more touches for LeBron and Wade," Vogel said. "That's not exactly an advantage."

-- The Associated Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 25, 2012 C2

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