Heat seal win over Celtics

MIAMI (AP):

Using a 16-0 run to end the game, the Miami Heat beat the Boston Celtics 97-87 on Wednesday to win the series 4-1 and take a spot in the NBA Eastern Conference finals.

Dwyane Wade scored 34 points, and LeBron James put the Heat up for good with a 3-pointer with 2:10 left on the way to a 33-point effort.

James added a series-sealing 3-pointer with 40.4 seconds left.

A steal and a two-handed slam six seconds later for good measure, followed by a Celtics turnover, got the party started. It was over, the Heat and Celtics knew it, and Boston coach Doc Rivers stood silently near the bench, his arms folded across his chest as James ran down the clock on Miami's final offensive possession of the series.

Boston were thoroughly worn down by a younger, more athletic opponent. The Celtics won the first three meetings between the clubs this season, then lost five of the final six.

Miami took another step on delivering on the massive pre-season investment that attracted James and Chris Bosh to join Wade in an intimidating line-up.

Next up will be either Chicago or Atlanta, in a series that may start as early as Sunday.

Bosh finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds, including head-faking his way past Kevin Garnett for a game-tying dunk with 2:57 left.

Put talk to rest

The rest was up to James. He scored the game's final 10 points, putting to rest talk that he couldn't be effective late in games.

It's Miami's fourth trip to the East finals, their first since 2006.

Ray Allen led Boston with 18 points. Garnett had 15 points and 11 rebounds, Paul Pierce scored 12 and Delonte West added 10.

In Oklahoma City, the hosts blitzed Memphis to take their first lead in this series, three games to two.