WHEN IT CAME to the crunch, the Nets couldn’t even get their hands on the ball.

LeBron James scored 22 points as the Miami Heat beat Brooklyn 94-82 last night and took a 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

Just two points separated the sides with six minutes to play in the final quarter before Miami pulled away and then killed the game by running down the clock with a superb 1:40 of possession.

The rules of basketball are designed to prevent this kind of thing from happening by forcing teams to attempt a shot every 24 seconds.

But Miami managed (count ‘em) not one, not two, but three offensive rebounds before LeBron drove to the rim for his penultimate bucket of the night.

You’d have to wonder what pop princess Rihanna made of it all…

Rihanna: she probably had more craic than this picture suggests. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

NBA Playoffs

Thursday

• Brooklyn Nets 82 @ Miami Heat (Miami lead 2-0)
• Portland Trail Blazers 97 @ San Antonio Spurs 114 (San Antonio lead 2-0)

Friday

• Indiana Pacers @ Washington Wizards (Series tied 1-1)
• Oklahoma City Thunder @ LA Clippers (Series tied 1-1)

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