Heat Push Past Bulls in Overtime

The game between the Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night wasn't quite a must win for the Bulls, but few teams come back from 3-1 series deficits. With so much on the line both teams played hard and refused to give up, pushing the game to overtime. In the extra period the Heat were able to separate themselves from the Bulls with their defense and Dwyane Wade snapping out of a long funk. They would go on to win 101-93.

The fourth quarter was back and forth with each team going on runs and seizing momentum. The Heat started with seven straight points and went up by one, but Chicago took the lead back on Derrick Rose free throws. Miami went up by three on a four point play courtesy of a flagrant foul called on Carlos Boozer.

From that point out the game see-sawed between the two teams. The Heat had a chance to win with 23 seconds left in the game and 18 on the shot clock. LeBron James got the ball and ten seconds later was whistled for an offensive foul. Rose missed a last second jumper and the game went to overtime.

In overtime the Heat stepped up defensively and only allowed the Bulls to make two shots the entire period. Neither team wanted to lose but Wade finally recovered from his poor second half play to find the basket and block two shots.

For the Heat LeBron James finished with 35 points and six rebounds while Chris Bosh finished with 22. They got an unexpected boost from Mike Miller with 12 points and several huge plays on defense.

The Bulls were led by Derrick Rose with 23 points. Both Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng scored 20 but in the end it was not enough to take control of the game. Rose had seven turnovers on the game and lost the ball on a key possession in overtime.

Miami leads the series 3-1 and will look to advance to the NBA Finals with a win in Game 5.