Heat rout Pacers in Game 4 to reach brink of NBA Finals

MIAMI – LeBron James scored 32 points as the Miami Heat routed Indiana 102-90 Monday, pushing the two-time defending champions to the brink of a fourth consecutive trip to the NBA Finals.

James added 10 rebounds and five assists as the Heat seized a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference final.

Miami can clinch another berth in the championship series with a victory in game five Wednesday at Indianapolis.

The Heat or Indiana will face either San Antonio or Oklahoma City in next month’s NBA Finals.

Miami led 49-44 at half-time, but the Heat dominated the third quarter, thanks in part to 14 points from James, and stretched the margin to 80-64 entering the fourth quarter.

A 13-1 Indiana run pulled Indiana within 95-84 but the Heat, who never trailed, kept the top-seeded Pacers at bay over the final minutes.

Chris Bosh, who had struggled to find his scoring touch against the Pacers, added 25 points while Dwyane Wade scored 15 for the Heat, which saw a sizzling start of 17 points in 17 minutes from Bosh.

“I thought that was going to happen today,” James said. “I told him he was going to have that kind of game. We got off to a great start because of him.”

The Heat also made a starting lineup switch, adding Rashard Lewis to alter the individual matchups with the Pacers and help spark Bosh’s scoring.

“We have high quality NBA individuals who can sit on the bench all year and when their name is called come in and play a great game,” James said. – Rappler.com