MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin: LeBron James scored 30 points to lead Miami over Milwaukee and complete a sweep into the second round of the NBA playoffs on Sunday while Boston avoided being swept out by New York.
Defending champion Miami rolled over the Bucks 88-77 to win their Eastern Conference best-of-seven series in four games and become the first team to advance despite guard Dwyane Wade being sidelined by a knee bruise.
Wade will have time to heal. The Heat will not open the second round against Chicago or Brooklyn until Saturday at the earliest.
“The way we are playing, we don’t want too much rest,” James said.
“We just have to continue to work our habits, get space on offense and stay tight on defense.”
At Boston, Jason Terry scored the Celtics’ last nine points in the final 92 seconds of overtime to lift the hosts over the Knicks 97-90 and pull Boston within 3-1 in that series, whose winner will face Atlanta or Indiana.
The Celtics forced a game five on Wednesday, although no team in NBA history has ever rallied to win a playoff series after losing the first three games.
“The spirit and heart of a champion is what kept us going,” Terry said.
“They made a great run at us. But we’re not dead yet.”
The Heat swept a series for the first time since 2005. Miami had taken 3-0 leads in the opening playoff round the past two years but failed to finish off the set in four games either time. — AFP