The Miami Heat crushed the Indiana Pacers 117-92 to stay in the hunt for a third straight NBA title after a 5-2 series win secured them the Eastern Conference championship on Friday.
I’m blessed. Very blessed. Very humbled. And we won’t take this opportunity for granted. It’s an unbelievable franchise, it’s an unbelievable group
Miami, now in their fourth straight NBA Finals, will play either the San Antonio Spurs or the Oklahoma City Thunder for the championship. San Antonio lead the Western Conference final 3-2.
LeBron James and Chris Bosh top scored for Miami with 25 points each while Paul George had 29 points for the Pacers.
"I’m blessed. Very blessed. Very humbled,” James said. “And we won’t take this opportunity for granted. It’s an unbelievable franchise, it’s an unbelievable group."
But we’re competing against the Michael Jordan of our era, the Chicago Bulls of our era, and you have to tip your hats to them for the way they played this whole series
The Heat fans were also charged up by the antics of Pacers guard Lance Stephenson who has attempted to wind-up James throughout the series and drew attention – and some ridicule – by blowing into James’ ear during game five.
If Stephenson thought that he could gain an advantage for his team by trying to get under the Heat’s skin, his approach badly misfired – his mere presence on court ensuring the loudest support Miami have received this season.