Times wires
Monday, April 18, 2011
MIAMI — LeBron James outscored the 76ers' starting five in the first half by himself.
So did Chris Bosh.
So did Dwyane Wade.
And that tells the tale of Monday night. The Heat led the whole way in a 94-73 victory to take a two games to none lead in the Eastern Conference first-round series.
James scored 29 and Bosh had his second straight double double with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Showing no signs of a migraine he battled Sunday, Wade scored 14 for Miami, 17-3 in its past 20 games and halfway to winning its first playoff series since the 2006 conference final.
"Our energy was much better," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, "from beginning to end."
Thaddeus Young scored 18 and Evan Turner added 15 for the 76ers, whose starters were outscored 76-29 by the Heat starters. Philadelphia shot 34 percent, and after getting 42 points in the paint in Game 1, it was held to 24 in the paint Monday.
"If they're playing great, they're a better team," Sixers coach Doug Collins said. "Okay? I mean, they won 58, we won 41.''
Miami has never lost a series after winning the first two games (6-0), and the Philadelphia franchise is winless in 16 tries after falling into an 0-2 postseason hole. Only 14 teams have won after losing the first two games of a best-of-seven series.
Wade played 34 minutes, despite spending Sunday bedridden in a darkened room fighting off a migraine he called a "nightmare."
"He controlled the game," James said of Wade.
Philadelphia shot 26 percent in the first half, a record low for a Heat playoff opponent. The 76ers' starters were outscored 41-9 in the first half.
"If they do score we want them to score outside the paint with a hand in their face," said Bosh, who considered Monday the Heat's best defensive game of the season.
The 76ers didn't have a starter reach double figures until 3:49 remained in the third quarter, when Jrue Holiday made a 3-pointer to get to 10 points. By then, James had 23, Bosh had 15 and Wade 12 — and the Heat led 68-50.
Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala was held to five, giving him nine in the series on 4-for-15 shooting.
Heat 94, 76ers 73
PHILADELPHIA (73): Iguodala 2-8 1-2 5, Brand 1-5 1-2 3, Hawes 1-3 0-2 2, Holiday 5-13 0-0 12, Meeks 2-6 2-2 7, Speights 0-5 0-0 0, Williams 1-8 6-7 8, Young 8-20 2-3 18, Turner 6-10 0-0 15, Battie 1-1 1-2 3. Totals 27-79 13-20 73.
MIAMI (94): James 10-19 8-10 29, Bosh 9-13 3-3 21, Ilgauskas 2-2 3-4 7, Bibby 2-7 0-0 5, Wade 4-11 6-7 14, Miller 0-0 0-0 0, Jones 3-6 0-0 7, Anthony 1-3 2-4 4, Chalmers 1-7 0-0 2, House 1-3 0-0 2, Howard 1-1 1-1 3, Magloire 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 34-72 23-29 94.
Philadelphia 13 18 21 21— 73
Miami 19 30 26 19— 94
3-Point Goals—Philadelphia 6-14 (Turner 3-3, Holiday 2-5, Meeks 1-2, Iguodala 0-2, Williams 0-2), Miami 3-15 (James 1-1, Jones 1-3, Bibby 1-5, Bosh 0-1, House 0-1, Wade 0-1, Chalmers 0-3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Philadelphia 50 (Iguodala, Brand 7), Miami 53 (Bosh 11). Assists—Philadelphia 18 (Iguodala 7), Miami 16 (James 6). Total Fouls—Philadelphia 21, Miami 17. Technicals—Philadelphia Coach Collins. A—20,204 (19,600).
Jason Williams retires: The Grizzlies said point guard Jason Williams, 35, is retiring after 12 seasons with averages of 10.5 points and 5.9 assists. The former UF standout missed the final 17 games with lower back soreness. He is the Grizzlies' all-time leader in assists with 2,069. Williams also played for the Kings and Magic and started on the Heat's 2005-2006 championship team.
Officiating mistake: The NBA says Kendrick Perkins' basket with 1:05 left that put the Thunder ahead to stay in a 107-103 Game 1 win against the Nuggets on Sunday should have been waved off as basket interference. Perkins said missed calls are part of the game: "They didn't call it. So, it was a basket." Denver coach George Karl was happy the league acknowledged the mistake, "but it doesn't mean anything other than we can go out and win Wednesday night."
billups likely out: The Knicks said guard Chauncey Billups is "very questionable'' tonight against the Celtics because of a balky left knee. Former FSU standout Toney Douglas would likely start in his place. "I'm ready,'' said Douglas, who led the Knicks to a 4-2 record in March when Billups had a thigh bruise. Guard Anthony Carter, like Douglas an aggressive defender, will also play a bigger role if Billups is out.
around the league: The Rockets won't renew coach Rick Adelman's contract. Adelman, 64, was 193-135 in four seasons. Players had praised him in exit interviews after the season and lobbied for his return. … Hornets center Aaron Gray said his sprained right ankle feels much better, but he isn't sure if he'll play against the Lakers on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Lakers guard Steve Blake returned to practice after missing a week with chicken pox and expects to play in Game 2. He's mystified how he got the disease: "It's not like I went up to someone and shook someone's hand that had spots all over them." … Blazers coach Nate McMillan was fined $35,000 by the NBA for criticizing the officiating in Game 1 against the Mavericks.