Heat 101, Bulls 93 (OT)
Miami's Big Three accounted for all 16 points in overtime as the Heat took a stranglehold in the NBA's Eastern Conference final with a 101-93 win over the visiting Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night.
After a hard-fought 48 minutes between the teams, the Heat never trailed in extra time. Chris Bosh scored the first four points of the OT session and LeBron James converted a driving layup with 1:36 remaining to give Miami a 93-89 edge.
Chicago turned the ball over on consecutive possessions and Dwyane Wade iced things on a layup with a minute left.
James led the way with 35 points while Bosh added 22 and Wade had 14 as the Heat seized a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Derrick Rose scored 23 points and Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng added 20 apiece for the Bulls, who will try to extend the series Thursday night in Chicago.
The Bulls held a two-point lead after one half, and Boozer and Rose helped preserve the lead for much of the third quarter. The duo poured in the final 13 points of the quarter, capped by a Rose 3-pointer with 24 seconds left that put Chicago in front 68-63 after three.
As the Bulls struggled on offense to open the fourth, Mike Miller and the Heat surged ahead early in the quarter. His 3-pointer made it a one-point game, and he added an 18-footer to put Miami ahead 70-69 with 9:57 remaining.
The teams traded leads right up until the final moments. Miami had a chance to go in front one last time, but James was called for a charge with eight seconds left. That gave the Bulls a final chance to win in regulation, but Rose missed an 18-footer as time expired.