Miami on brink of eliminating Chicago

CHICAGO - Agence France-Presse

Miami Heat superstar LeBron James (C) drives to the basket against Nazr Mohammed of the Chicago Bulls in the fourth game of the conference semifinals. AFP photo

LeBron James had 27 points, eight assists and seven rebounds as the Miami Heat routed Chicago 88-65 to seize a commanding 3-1 series lead in their second round Eastern Conference series.

Miami, who dominated the Bulls 115-78 in game two, started with an 11-2 run in the contest on May 13 and never looked back.

“We just try to wear a team down throughout the series and get better each game,” said James who was the leading vote getter in balloting for the NBA All Defensive Team on Monday. “We’ve done a great job of closing out quarters and going into the next quarter with momentum.”

Chicago shot a dismal 25.7 percent from the field and also scored a postseason franchise low in points in front of a crowd of 21,990 at the United Center arena.

The Bulls scored just nine points in the third quarter, another franchise low.

Miami can now close out the best-of-seven series in game five tonight at home.

“We have to come out with the same intensity that we came out with tonight, both offensively and defensively,” James said.

Chris Bosh also scored in double figures, finishing with 14 points and four blocks for the Heat who had 19 fastbreak points compared to just seven for the Bulls.

“We wanted to work as hard as we could on defence tonight,” Bosh said. “We are looking forward to having a chance to close these guys out Wednesday.”

Carlos Boozer had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Bulls, whose previous playoff franchise low in points (69) came against the Detroit Pistons in game one of a 2007 NBA quarter-finals.

Their previous low in field-goal percentage (31.1 percent) also came against the Pistons in game seven of the 1990 NBA semi-finals.

Robinson scoreless

Boozer shot just three-of-14 and Nate Robinson was zero-for-12.

“We are disappointed with the way we played,” said Joakim Noah. “But there is still basketball left and we are not giving up.”

Once again, the Bulls had to play without injured star Derrick Rose, Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich.

Rose hasn’t played all season and Deng underwent a spinal tap two weeks ago to rule out meningitis and has been slow to recover.

With all of the injuries and the heavy minutes, Chicago appears to be losing steam.

“We have to bounce back,” said Bulls’ coach Tom Thibodeau.

James had 15 points and Bosh scored 12 in the first half for Miami who led 44-33 at halftime. They held Chicago to just 27 percent shooting in the first 24 minutes.

The Bulls’ day just kept getting worse, especially in the third when they made just two of their 13 shots in the quarter.

Miami was rolling on offense, going on a 10-1 surge in the middle part of the third.

Norris Cole swished a three pointer at the buzzer to make it 61-42 for Miami who led by as many as 26 points in the fourth.