0 run to end the game, the Miami Heat beat the Boston Celtics 97-87 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 two-handed slam 6 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 was 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 lineup. Next up will be either Chicago or Atlanta, in a series that may start as early as Sunday. Chicago leads the series 3-2. “It's a great team,” James said of the Celtics. “I got the utmost respect for that team. They're the reason why all three of us came together, is because of what they did, that blueprint they had in ‘08 when they all came together.” It's Miami's fourth trip to the East Finals, its first since 2006. Thunder 99, Grizzlies 72: In Oklahoma City, the hosts blitzed Memphis to take their first lead in this series, three games to two. Kevin Durant scored 19 points and reserve Daequan Cook added 18 for the Thunder, who won comfortably after the triple-overtime effort in the previous game. Marc Gasol had 16 points to lead Memphis, which matched its lowest point total from the regular season and played like it was still drained from the emotional overtime loss. The Grizzlies shot a season-worst 36 percent and were far enough behind that Durant and Thunder teammate Russell Westbrook were rested in the fourth quarter. “We played great defense. Everyone was in tune, locked in,” Durant said. “It was a group effort.” Memphis' Zach Randolph, who played 56 minutes in the marathon Game 4, never was effective. He finished with just nine points and seven rebounds, and even missed four of his first five free throws. Gasol did most of his damage during a 6-minute stretch in the third quarter. Then the Grizzlies fell hopelessly behind. Oklahoma City's Nick Collison turned a rebound into a three-point play. When he converted the free throw, it completed a string of seven straight points by the Thunder to bump the lead to 65-46 late in the third quarter. Memphis didn't stand a chance of a comeback. Too many missed layups. Too many short shots that clanked off the front rim. Too little energy left. Mike Conley made just 4 of 16 shots, Tony Allen was 4 for 13 and O.J. Mayo 2 for 8 on a dreadful night when nothing was going in.
