LeBron, Wade get Heat even with Pacers
From left, the Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Mario Chalmers celebrate during the second half of Game 4 against the Indiana Pacers. (May 20, 2012) Credit: AP
Miami's season, the one that's supposed to end in an NBA championship and vindication, was slipping away.
LeBron James brought it back. And this time, Dwyane Wade helped him.
James scored 40 points, Wade 30 -- 22 in the second half -- and Miami's dynamic duo took over after halftime to get the Heat even in the series with a 101-93 win over the host Indiana Pacers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Sunday.
With Chris Bosh injured and back in Florida, the James-Wade tandem saved the Heat, who will host Game 5 Tuesday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.
"Just survival," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "This is what the playoffs are about." James was at his MVP best, getting 18 rebounds and nine assists and refusing to let Miami's season slip away.
"It's still going to be a dogfight," James said. "It's a three-game series now."
Wade rebounded from the worst playoff game of his career, shaking off a 1-for-8 shooting start and getting nine rebounds and six assists.
Danny Granger scored 20 to lead the Pacers, who had the Heat down by 10 points in the third quarter.
Wade, who scored five points in Game 3 and yelled at Spoelstra on the sideline during a third-quarter timeout in Miami's 19-point loss, came alive in the third when he made all six of his shots and scored 14 points. "I've been doubted before. I'll be doubted again," Wade said.
James scored 14 in the period as the pair landed a 1-2 punch on the Pacers' chin. He and Wade combined for all but two points in a 25-5 run that put Miami up 76-66.
"We had a terrible performance in Game 3," James said. "We wanted to redeem ourselves."
Spurs 102, Clippers 99: Tony Parker hit a layup and a floater some 26 seconds apart, the second basket giving San Antonio a 100-97 lead with 1:47 left and Danny Green put the clamps on Chris Paul for the final few possessions at Staples Center as the Spurs completed a four-game sweep in the Western Conference semifinals.
Paul had given the Clippers their final lead in the seesaw game at 97-96 with 2:27 left when he drove to the basket, was fouled by Green but threw up an off-balance underhand shot that bounced along the top frame of the backboard before falling into the bucket. He hit the free throw for a three-point play.
Tim Duncan had 21 points and Parker 17 for the Spurs, who are 8-0 in the playoffs.
Paul had 23 points and 11 assists and Blake Griffin 21 points for the Clippers.
-- AP
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