Heat set to torch Chicago

Posted: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 7:00 pm

By ANDREW SELIGMAN
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) — The way this series is turning out, it’s hard to believe the Miami Heat ever trailed the Chicago Bulls.
They’re running away with the Eastern Conference semifinals, and another performance like this will end it.
LeBron James scored 27 points and the Heat nearly matched a franchise record for fewest points allowed in a playoff game, pounding the listless and short-handed Bulls 88-65 on Monday night to take a 3-1 lead in the series.
“We just worked as hard as we could on defense,” Chris Bosh said. “After the Game 3 performance, we really didn’t feel like we did a very good job. We just wanted to have more energy today and concentrate on our coverages a lot better.”
Well, how’s this for a result?
The 65 points allowed were only two more than the all-time postseason low for a Miami opponent, and it was easily the worst offensive performance by a Chicago team in the playoffs.
Never before had the Bulls scored fewer than 69 in a playoff game nor 10 or less in a quarter during the postseason, but both those marks fell on a night when they were dominated on both ends of the floor.
Miami led by 11 at the half and put this one away in the third quarter, outscoring Chicago 17-9 in the period.
Now the Heat will try to wrap up the series at home Wednesday night, taking what they hope will be the next step toward a second straight championship.
They’re in this spot because they shook off a loss in the series opener and haven’t looked back.
Miami pounded Chicago in Game 2, coming away with its most lopsided playoff victory while handing the Bulls their worst ever postseason loss — and the Heat continued to roll from there.
James had his usual complete game with eight assists and seven rebounds Monday.
Bosh finished with 14 points after scoring 20 and grabbing 19 rebounds in Game 3, and the Heat won again despite another quiet night from Dwyane Wade (six points), whose right knee was bothering him again. He appeared to aggravate it on a fallaway jumper during the game but was able to return after getting re-taped.
“It’s frustrating at times, but you just try to do what you can,” Wade said.
Published in The Messenger 5.14.13