NBA Playoffs: Eastern Finals: Miami vs Chicago Game 2: Heat square series 1-1 Highlights

Lindy Rumer May 19, 2011 0

NBA Playoffs: Eastern Finals: Miami vs Chicago Game 2: Heat square series 1-1 Highlights

CHICAGO: In the times of desperation, it was LeBron James who answered the call as he scored 29 points on Wednesday night to inspire Miami Heat to series leveling victory over Chicago Bulls in the Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals in the NBA Playoffs.

Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Joel Anthony. Courtesy: Getty Images

LeBron James scored 9 of his 29 points down the stretch to help the Heat to a 85-75 win over Bulls while Udonis Haslem also made his mark, hammering down 2 big jams and scoring 13 points off the bench.

For Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose was once again the star with 21 points, eight assists and six rebounds, but the Bulls struggled offensively (35 percent FG, 16 percent 3FG) in the Game 2 loss. Luol Deng added 13 points for Chicago as the series, now 1-1, shifts to Miami for Game 3 on Sunday.

LeBron James. Courtesy: Getty Images

LeBron James heralded return to his usual havoc-wreaking ways and after losing the first quarter, the Heat never allowed the Bulls to dictate terms in a game that Miami had to win.

Dwayne Wade also played a crucial role in the victory by scoring 24 points as Chicago Bulls looked unable to stop the duo tonight after putting a lid on them in the Game 1.

Derrick Rose, LeBron James. Courtesy: Getty Images

A satisfied LeBron James told reporters, “The series has just started. It’s 1-1. We’re excited that we were able to come here and get a win. But it’s just started.”

James scored nine points down the stretch in the final 4:27 commencing with a three-pointer that took Miami in advantage at 76-73. The Heat never looked back from there on.

The Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, “That fourth quarter is going to epitomize this entire series. It’s an absolute street fight for both teams.”

LeBron James. Courtesy: Getty Images

Dwayne Wade said, “We got that one that we needed. Now, we go home and we’ve got to take care of business. This team right here is like us. They can win at home and on the road.”

For Bulls, Rose was once again the top performer but had an ordinary fourth quarter where he could score only two points. Both teams struggled to score points in the final quarter as it ended at 14-10 in Heat’s favor; Deng hit 13 points but could only manage four after the opening period; Joakim Noah scored nine points but only eight rebounds; but Taj Gibson showed some spark in the final quarter scoring all of his eight points; while Carlos Boozer proved a non-factor with only seven points and eight rebounds.

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade. Courtesy: Reuters

The Chicago Bulls Tom Thibodeau stated, “We played a low-energy offense, a low-energy defense and the result was not good”.

Derrick Rose was of the view, “We can’t afford to go out and play like this. We let them get easy baskets, especially in transition.”

Now the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals move to the city of Miami for the next two games as Heat are feeling the confidence to make it big in front of their home crowd after winning their first game over Bulls after losing all three regular season games.

LeBron James, Mike Miller, Luol Deng

The winner of the series will take on either Dallas Mavericks or Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals as the Western Conference Finals will resume tomorrow at American Airlines Center with the Game 2 where Dallas Mavericks took the first blood.