Result: Miami beat Boston 102-91
What that means: The Heat take a commanding 2-0 series lead against their big rivals in the East.
How it happened: A year ago, the story was different for LeBron James.
Exactly 365 days after losing Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at home — his former home in Cleveland, anyway — against Boston, James was on the cusp of losing the upper hand to the Celtics again.
Not this time.
James scored 24 of his 35 points in the second half, Dwyane Wade added 28 and the Heat used a late 14-0 run to pull away and beat the aching Celtics 102-91 in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
“Feel good about it,” James said. “Series is far — far, far, far — away from over. It’s really just beginning for us.”
James shot 14 of 25 from the field, and logged 44 minutes with no turnovers. Chris Bosh finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds for Miami, which leads the best-of-seven 2-0.
Game 3 in Boston isn’t until Saturday night – primetime – and the Celtics may be particularly thankful for the break. Especially Kevin Garnett after this from Wade:
Rajon Rondo played through a balky back to score 20 points and add 12 assists for Boston, which got 16 points from Kevin Garnett and 13 from Paul Pierce — who retreated to the locker room for treatment on his strained left achilles’ in the first half. Ray Allen was held to seven points, and left with what he said was a bruised chest cavity courtesy of an elbow from James in the third quarter.
Rondo’s back won’t be much better after LeBron sent him tumbling head over heels on his way to the basket.
“Being down 2-0 doesn’t scare any of us, doesn’t make us nervous,” Allen said. “It’s just an opportunity to come out shining.”
Boston tied the game at 80 on a pair of free throws by Pierce with 7:10 left. The Celtics missed their next six shots and Miami pulled away, taking command of both the game and the series.
And for James, it was delicious irony.
- 1 May, 2010: Cleveland opened the East semis at home with a win over Boston.
- 1 May, 2011: Miami opened the East semis at home with a win over Boston.
- 3 May, 2010: Cleveland loses Game 2, the first stumble on the way to falling in the series.
- 3 May, 2011: James gets what might go down as a breakthrough win — for him and the Heat — over Boston.
“We finally wore them down,” James said. Here’s how it all unfolded:
Result: Oklahoma see off the Grizzlies on a scoreline of 111-102
What that means: Facing a potential 0-2 deficit, the Thunder make a statement with a decisive win over Memphis to tie up the series: 1-1.
How it happened: Zach Randolph had his way with the Oklahoma City Thunder to get the Memphis Grizzlies a victory in Game 1.
Game 2 was different from the very start.
Randolph’s first shot got swatted by Serge Ibaka. His next two jumpers didn’t find their target. Soon, the Thunder had the lead and never gave it back.
Kevin Durant scored 26 points and Oklahoma City clamped down on Randolph and frontcourt partner Marc Gasol to beat the Grizzlies 111-102 to even the Western Conference semifinals.
“We did a great job of starting the game out with some big-time intensity,” Durant said. “Everybody was physical.
“There was a lot of pushing and grabbing and holding from both teams, but that’s the kind of game you like in the playoffs.”
Randolph and Gasol combined for 54 points in Game 1, but barely managed half of that in the rematch. Randolph made just two of 13 shots and finished with 15 points and nine rebounds. Gasol was three for nine and had 13 points and 10 boards.
“They attacked us and they were determined that they weren’t going to let Marc and Zach beat them,” Grizzlies forward Sam Young said. “They came out and every time Zach got the ball, they put so much pressure on them and contained him. Every time Marc got the ball, they made sure to bump him and pounded him and pounded him and it paid off.”
Game 3 is Saturday night in Memphis.
- additional reporting AP
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