Thu | Jul 23, 2026

James lifts Miami past Boston, 100-77

Published:Monday | April 11, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Miami Heat's Chris Bosh (Number 1) is fouled as he goes to the basket by Boston Celtics' Glen Davis in the third quarter of |an NBA basketball game in Miami yesterday. The Heat won 100-77. - AP

MIAMI (AP):

If this was an Eastern Conference semi-finals preview, then the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics showed what to expect.

Few pleasantries, pushing and shoving, and maybe a Game Seven in Miami.

LeBron James scored 27 points, Dwayne Wade added 14 and the Heat moved closer to the number-two seed in the East playoffs yesterday by beating the sliding Celtics 100-77.

"It was a playoff-atmosphere type of game, from the fans to both teams' approach to what the game meant," Wade said. "It had that feel."

Miami moved a game ahead of Boston, trimming their magic number to clinch the second seed to two. The teams will finish second and third in some order behind Chicago in the East, slotted to play in the conference semi-finals.

'don't overstate the win'

"We'd like to play them, I can tell you that," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "And we may have to if we want to go somewhere."

Chris Bosh added 13 points and eight rebounds for Miami, which had been 0-3 against Boston this season, though Heat coach Erik Spoelstra cautioned against overstating the win's importance.

"We proved we can beat them tonight," Spoelstra said. "That's about it, in my mind."

Paul Pierce scored 24 points and Kevin Garnett added 21 for Boston, which lost for the 10th time in their last 19 games. The Celtics were outrebounded 42-26, and outscored 44-26 in the paint.

boston hex solved

The Heat finally solved the Boston hex, beating the Celtics for the third time in the last 21 meetings. Bosh had been 1-13 against Boston since March 2007, and the Celtics ended both the 2009-10 seasons for Wade (in the first round) and James (in the second round).

Miami won for the 13th time in their last 16 games, and the bench - maligned for much of the season - outscored Boston's 32-12.

"What worked for us today is, offensively we played together," Wade said.

Ray Allen scored 13 points for the Celtics. Rajon Rondo was held to just seven points and five assists on 3 for 8 shooting.

"Frustration is high on our team right now," Rivers said.