Submitted by Admin on May 25, 2011 - 15:33
The Miami Heat Beat the Chicago Bulls in overtime and now are on the verge of kicking them out of the NBA playoffs.
With LeBron James scoring 35 points and applying defense that helped limited Bulls point guard Derrick Rose to 23 points on 8-of-27 shooting, the Heat moved to a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals with the overtime victory. With power forward Chris Bosh scoring 22 points and reserve forward Mike Miller providing an unexpected 12, the Heat was able to survive on a night when Dwyane Wade was limited to 14 points on 5-of-16 shooting.
With the Heat and Mavericks in position for a potential meeting in the NBA Finals, a pair of former Miami teammates who have taken similar paths this season having been checking up on each other.
Teammates on the 2003-04 Heat, Miami forward Udonis Haslem and Dallas forward Caron Butler both have dealt with significant injuries this season.
Haslem, now back, was sidelined after having foot surgery the third week of the season. Butler has been out since having surgery Jan. 4 to repair a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee.
Butler has yet to make it back. But when Haslem made his breakthrough against the Chicago Bulls in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals, Butler was among the first to text words of encouragement.
Now, the hope is a reunion at the NBA Finals. Haslem said he does not want his fellow 31-year-old forward to push too hard.
Butler was one of many opponents to text messages of support after Haslem's big effort in Game 2 of the East finals, with former Heat teammate James Posey and former Boston Celtics rival Marquis Daniels among them.
It is only a matter of time before these teams meet in the finals and the heat take the next step by beating the Bulls.
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