Boston and Memphis lost steam in their respective overtime games in this pair of tremendous thrillers.
MIA over BOS, 98-90 (MIA up 3-1)
The Big Three put some big hurt on the Big Green.
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| Paul Pierce and the Celtics fought hard, but fell short in the end of Game 4 (image by the AP) |
When LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh combine for all but 15 points of the Miami Heat’s total score, it’ll be tough for any team to beat them.
Even the Boston Celtics.
They came close though. Oh so close.
It took 48 minutes and an overtime period for the Cs to fall into a 1-3 hole against the Heat. It might take less than that for Miami to dispose of Boston altogether in Game 5.
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| Rajon Rondo wasn't as inspiring in Game 4 (image by Elsa/Getty Images) |
In my opinion, this game more than any in the series proves that Miami wants to win the championship, and is willing to bump, bruise, bash, and brawl to get past anyone standing in the way. The Sixers fell in the first round, and from the looks of it, the boys from Beantown will need nothing short of a miracle to force a Game 6.
In contrast to the Big 3’s 83 points, the Fearsome Foursome of the Celtics tallied only 61, with Kevin Garnett producing just 7 points and 10 rebounds after his beastly output in Game 3.
Needless to say, Boston will have to be close to flawless to derail the Heat, who are just a win away from being the second team thru to third round of the playoffs.
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| The Cs had a chance to square it, instead they're now on the brink of a 2nd round exit. (image by the AP) |
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| LBJ scored 35 points to make up for his very un-Kingly Game 3. (image by the AP) |
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| Boston stumbles to edge of elimination (image by Elsa/Getty Images) |
OKC over MEM, 133-123 (Series tied, 2-2)
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| The only Gasol left standing had a monster game, but it wasn't enough to repulse the Thunder (image by the AP) |
It took Miami 53 minutes to weather the Celtics’ storm.
It took the Thunder 10 more minutes to finally defeat the persistent Memphis Grizzlies.
In what is shaping up to be a series for the ages, these two clubs slogged back-and-forth past midnight before there was only one left standing.
And the prize Oklahoma City gets for going thru such a wringer? A series tie, and reducing the series to a best-of-three.
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| Kevin Durant hit the big shots in OT#3 to put away the Grizz (image by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) |
Scott Brooks’s terrific twosome of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant shot well especially in the extra sessions, even as Memphis repeatedly found ways to stubbornly hang on.
Mike Conley hit a 3 to force the first OT.
Greivis Vasquez filled in when Conley fouled out and hit his own 3 to force OT#2.
Marc Gasol tipped in a Zach Randolph miss to force the last five minutes.
Then OKC finally got things right and the Grizzlies lost steam.
So it’s back to the Sooner State for what should be a magnificently rowdy and cardiac-inducing Game 5. And then Game 6 in Memphis. And something tells me we’ll see a Game 7 too.
This just has the makings of legen-wait for it-dary series.
Now for the lunch I missed waiting for this mad game to end.
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| Jet Zero unloaded 40 points in leading OKC to its 2nd win in the series (image by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) |
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| Zach Randolph had another strong showing, but OKC finally found a way to withstand it and still win. (image by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) |
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| OKC may never be able to stop Zebo (image by the AP) |
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