NBA: Heat roll over Nets for 2-0 lead

MIAMI - Agence France-Presse

Shaun Livingston #14 of the Brooklyn Nets lays the ball up to the basket as LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat looks on during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena on May 8, 2014 in Miami, Florida. AFP Photo

LeBron James tallied 22 points and Chris Bosh had 18 points and six rebounds as the Miami Heat beat the Brooklyn Nets 94-82 in game two of their Eastern Conference playoff series.
 
The two-time defending NBA champs took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series with game three set for Saturday night in New York.
 
"We anticipated this would be a grind," said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. "We had to gut this one out."  
Dwyane Wade scored 14 points and Ray Allen scored all of his 13 points in the second half for Miami, who have won eight consecutive playoff contests dating back to game six of the 2013 championship series. Eight straight wins equals a franchise record, which they achieved twice before.
 
Veteran Ray Allen came off the bench to finish with 13 points and eight rebounds in the win in front of a packed crowd of more than 19,600 people at AmericanAirlines Arena. Allen said he has been gearing up all season to be able to contribute to a long playoff run.
 
"This is the part of the season we prepare our bodies for. This is when we start getting better," he said. "I am built for this. At all times I am ready."  

Spoelstra said Allen helped spark the team.
 
"Ray was playing with a great motor. We were getting our best action with him running around," he said.
 
Mirza Teletovic scored a team-high 20 points for Brooklyn on six-of-nine shooting from beyond the arc.
 
Shaun Livingston contributed 15 points, while Paul Pierce and Joe Johnson added 13 points each in the loss.
 
Kevin Garnett made his first field goal of the series early in the third quarter and finished with four points along with a game-high 12 boards for Brooklyn.
 
Miami swept the Charlotte Bobcats in four games in round one and now have beaten the Nets two straight.
 
This is the third playoff meeting between the two and Miami has won the first two series.