LeBron James, Dwyane Wade simply willed Heat to win
BY MARK POTASH mpotash@suntimes.com May 26, 2011 11:28PM
LeBron James, right, and Chris Bosh of the Heat embrace after beating the Bulls 83-80 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals at the United Center Thursday, May 26, 2011, in Chicago. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times
Updated: July 3, 2011 1:43PM
How did that happen?
A few questionable calls that didn’t go the Bulls’ way snowballed into a landslide that became an epic collapse, leaving the Bulls to rue the undeniable: LeBron James and Dwyane Wade willed their team to victory like nobody in the United Center ever has. Ever.
Somehow, someway, James and Wade found a way to erase a 12-point deficit in the final three minutes with a run for the ages — outscoring the Bulls 18-3 for an 83-80 victory that clinched the Eastern Conference finals series 4-1.
Ever since James duped the referees into calling a foul on Derrick Rose in the third quarter with a great acting job when Rose swiped at the ball, the Heat’s momentum continued to build.
But it climaxed in the fourth quarter, with the Bulls leading 77-65 with 3:14 to play.
◆ Ronnie Brewer missed the back end of a two-shot foul.
◆ Wade hit an eight-footer with 3:02 left, 77-67.
◆ Rose turned the ball over and Wade scored on a fast break, missing a chance for a three-point play, 77-69.
◆ James hit a three-pointer with 2:04 left, 77-72.
◆ Rose hit a turnaround in the lane with 1:46 to go, 79-72.
◆ Wade hit a three-pointer, was fouled by Rose and converted a four-point play with 1:30 left, 79-76.
◆ Rose missed, James rebounded and hit a three-pointer with 1:07 left, 79-79.
◆ James stole the ball from Rose and hit a pull-up 18-footer with 29 seconds left, 81-79.
◆ Rose hit one-of-two free throws with 26 seconds left, 81-80.
◆ Chris Bosh hit two free throws with 16 seconds left, 83-80.
◆ Rose missed a three-pointer under heavy pressure with no call. Game over.
