Chicago, IL

Chris Bosh finished with 20 points and 19 rebounds while LeBron James contributed 25 points as the Miami Heat beat the Chicago Bulls 104-94 for a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Heat also got big contributions from Norris Cole, who matched his postseason career high with his second straight 18-point performance, and their bench that outscored Chicago's 36-8.

Bosh also asserted himself for Miami with 10 points and 10 rebounds in the half, and Cole scored 11 in the first two quarters.

Chicago got Boozer involved in the early going, and he responded with 14 points in the first half after averaging just seven in the first two games of the series. Belinelli had 12, hitting three 3-pointers. But like Boozer, he also picked up three fouls.

Worse, Bulls' Nazr Mohammed got tossed with 9:29 left in the half for shoving LeBron James. The Heat led 52-50 at halftime before taking over the game.

James was off target most of the way, hitting just 6 of 17 shots, but came on strong down the stretch, scoring 12 in the fourth quarter.

The Heat was up by just two points, 85-83, when Cole scored on a finger roll with 4:01 left, and Miami started to take control from there. James answered a 3-pointer by Belinelli with one of his own, and after Boozer hit a jumper for Chicago, Cole buried another 3 for the Heat to make it 96-88 with 1:48 remaining.

Carlos Boozer led Chicago with 21 points. Robinson and Jimmy Butler each scored 17. Joakim Noah added 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Marco Belinelli had 16 points, but the Bulls couldn't pull it out.

 

Bosh-fueled Heat Hold On to Take 2-1 Series Lead on Bulls

 

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