NBA play-offs: LeBron James scores 49 as Miami Heat go 3-1 up against Brooklyn Nets
Last Updated: 13/05/14 7:49am
LeBron James scored 49 points as the Miami Heat moved a step closer to the Eastern Conference finals with a 102-96 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.
James, who matched his career-high mark in the play-offs, helped the Heat move 3-1 up in the best-of-seven-series.
Despite James’ effort the Nets managed to keep pace with the hosts at the Barclays Center until Chris Bosh drained a crucial three-pointer from the corner with 57.3 seconds left to play.
James also had a big hand in the decisive play, the four-time league MVP defying a double team from Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to fire the ball to Mario Chalmers, who passed it to Bosh.
"(James's) biggest play of the game after scoring that many points was getting off the ball," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
"He just showed great poise and trust to be able to make a great play, a basketball play. He was fantastic tonight.”
James missed the chance to put up 50 points when he missed a free throw with 1.1 seconds left.
In the Western Conference, the Portland Trail Blazers stayed alive against the San Antonio Spurs as a 103-92 win finally got them on the board in Game 4 of their series.
Damian Lillard scored 25 points for the Trail Blazers, who need to win three more games in a row to progress to the conference finals.
