MIAMI - The Miami Heat beat the Chicago Bulls 101-93 in overtime on Tuesday to take a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference finals and move one win away from a place in the NBA finals series.
The best-of-seven series moves to Chicago for Game Five on Thursday and that proimses to be another bruising but entertaining enocunter in what has been a trhilling series.
A compelling and phsyical game fiinshed 85-85 in regulation after league MVP Derrick Rose missed two late opportuinties inlcuding a gam-ewinning shot for the Bulls with the final play.
Rose had the game in his hand after an offnesive foul was called on Miam'is LeBron James with eight seconds left - but he was unable to find the basket.
"Tnoight was definitely on me. I had two opportunities to end the game. I couldn't do it...it really was my fault but I am going to learn from it," said Rose, who made 23 points but gave up seven turnovers.
"It is not over yet - we still have games to play, we are going home, we have to be positive and they are beatable."
The MVP's game was made more dfificult by James opting to mark him in the crucail latter stages and overtime, with the attention making Rose's final shot in regulation so dififcult.
Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau was quick to give his backing to the 22-yera-old Rose.
"He missed but I wouldn't want to have any other plaeyr, he is a great player and a great competitor and I have great belief in him" he said.
The Heat, with James (35 ponits) taking charge on both sides of the ball, doimnated in overtime and extended their post-season home record to 8-0.
The loss was the first time this season the Bulls have lost three successive games.
Dwyane Wade had a quieter than normal game for Miami until overtime when he suddenly found the touch and rhythm that had been asbent.
He produced a crucial jump shot to make it 91-88 and then made a drivnig lay-up on a turonver to extend the lead to six points before making a key block.
"The most important thing is that he wa...
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