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Monday, May 21, 2012

Two much: James, Wade burn Indiana - Philadelphia Inquirer

LeBron James scored 40 points, superstar sidekick Dwyane Wade added 30 - 22 in the second half - and Miami's dynamic duo took over after halftime to get the Heat even in the series with a 101-93 win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Sunday in Indianapolis.

With Chris Bosh injured and back in Florida, the James-Wade tandem saved the Heat, who will host Game 5 on Tuesday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.

James was at his MVP best, adding 18 rebounds and nine assists and refusing to let Miami's season slip away. Wade rebounded from the worst playoff game of his career, shaking off a 1 of 8 shooting start and adding nine rebounds and six assists.

Danny Granger scored 20 to lead the Pacers.

Wade, who scored five points in Game 3 and yelled at coach Erik Spoelstra on the sideline during a third-quarter timeout in Miami's 19-point loss, came alive in the third when he made all six shots and scored 14 points. James added 14 as well in the period.

Only eight teams in league history have overcome a 3-1 deficit to win a best-of-seven series. That's what the Heat were staring at with a loss in Game 4.

Lakers on the ropes

Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant stood above the three-point line and watched the shot clock dwindle in the final seconds of Game 4 between the Lakers and Thunder in Los Angeles. When Metta World Peace backed up slightly on defense, Durant hesitated only an instant before launching a 26-footer.

The three-time scoring champ trusts his instincts and his silky-smooth jumper. Neither let him down while he and Russell Westbrook engineered yet another late comeback that pushed a frustrated Kobe Bryant to the brink.

Westbrook scored 10 of his 37 points during a stirring fourth-quarter rally, Durant added 31 points and hit that tie-breaking three with 13.7 seconds left, and the Thunder seized control of their second-round series with a 103-100 victory Saturday night.

Game 5 is Monday night in Oklahoma City.

Kobe Bryant missed eight of his 10 shots in the final quarter, but shrugged off his struggles by saying his teammates' lack of aggressiveness "forced" him to take tough shots. He also left no question which teammate deserved the most blame: Pau Gasol.

"Pau's got to be more assertive" Bryant said. "He's the guy they're leaving. When he's catching the ball, he's looking to pass. He's got to be aggressive. He's got to shoot the ball or drive the ball to the basket. He will be next game."

Hoops legend Boozer dies

   Bob Boozer, a member of the dominating 1960 Olympic team who went on to star in the NBA, has died of a brain aneurysm. He was 75.

Ella Boozer said Sunday that her husband died Saturday afternoon at an Omaha hospital. He had become ill Friday night while having dinner with friends, she said.

Mr. Boozer was a two-time all-American at Kansas State in 1958-59 and played 11 years in the NBA after the Cincinnati Royals drafted him No. 1 overall. The 6-foot-8 forward retired after winning the 1971 NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks.

He played with Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, and Jerry Lucas on the gold medal winning 1960 Olympic squad often compared to the 1992 "Dream Team" and went on to average 14.8 points and 8.1 rebounds as a pro.

Ella Boozer said Larry Bird joked with Mr. Boozer about how the '60 Olympians had to swim across the Atlantic to get to Rome and had to live on a dollar day.

Mr. Boozer and his teammates on the 1960 Olympic team were inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010. They won eight games by an average of 42.4 points, and 10 played in the NBA.

- Associated Press

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