THE MIAMI HEAT have staked an early claim for back-to-back championships, thrashing the Indiana Pacers to advance to the NBA finals.
The reigning NBA champions thrashed the Pacers 99-76 in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference finals to claim a berth in the seven-game championship-deciding series.
Miami scored 33 points to 16 in the second quarter to break Indiana and continued to build on their lead in the final two terms to win by 23, with LeBron James (32 points) leading the way for the Heat.
The Pacers finished the opening quarter strongly on Monday, scoring seven of the last 11 points to lead 21-19 at the first break but the visitors were blown apart by Miami in the second term.
James scored 12 points in the second quarter, while Ray Allen sank a trio of three-pointers to add 10 for Miami (his only points of the game) as the home side built a 15-point margin at half-time.
The Heat out-scored Indiana 24-18 and 23-21 in the final two quarters to wrap up the Eastern Conference title, meaning Miami will have until Thursday to prepare for Game One of the NBA finals versus the San Antonio Spurs.
Dwyane Wade was another key player for Miami with 21 points and nine rebounds, while Indiana centre Roy Hibbert top-scored for the Pacers with 18, ably assisted by David West (14 points) and George Hill (13).
YouTube credit: NBA
She was lucky to be Born in the USA
@Observer: near Atlantic City i think
@Brian Dunne: hopefully the Glory Days arenโt behind her yet.
@Observer: like it
@Conor Egan: as long as she maintains a Hungry Heart she should be ok
@Brian Dunne: Sheโs a Jersey girl!
@Adam OโSullivan: My hometown
@Larry Betts: Sheโs a Nyaaaaaavan girl now hi
Bruce lying again, he said she was born to run!
@Gerry from the Block: Sheโs mad about tidiness and hygiene. Thatโs why she wants to visit Co.Kildare. She heard itโs naas and clane there.
@Brian Dunne: nope. She was born on the streets of Philadelphia, down by the river.
@Larry Betts: she sure is prosperous
Strange she is doing the equisterianโฆ. Youโd have thought sheโd be born to runโฆ.
I Believe she Can Fly
I knew sheโd be ok, sheโs Tougher Than The Rest.
Sheโs Solid, Solid As A Rock
Ohhhh.oooh..sheโs on fire!
Iโll get.me coat.
That Donโt Impress-a-me Much
Everyone racking their brains for the titles of Bruceโs albums and songs so they can come up with atrocious puns! Iโm just jealous that I got here late and was beaten to it. โBorn to punโฆโ
@William Tallon: I once submitted ten puns for a Funny Pun competition. I thought at least one of them would win,but no pun in ten did.
@Larry Betts: Now thatโs an oldieโฆ
@Larry Betts: morto for ya
@Mary Paget: Sad. For you.
Not one comment so far about the actual story! Must be a record even for the Journalโฆ
@William Tallon: people are probably just Waiting on a Sunny Day
@William Tallon: Makes a change I suppose. Itโs usually about a girl singer while her daddyโs out riding. Vice versa in this case
@William Tallon: whatโs to say about the fact that somebody won a medal in the Olympics in an obscure and relatively elite sport. Well done?
That said, Iโd like to point out to the journal that there are other countries in the Olympics as well as Ireland and the US.
@john smith iv: Obscure?? Elite?? Give me patience!
Sheโs the one. Chasinโ wild horses. Dancing in the dark on the streets of Philadelphia tonight,though there may be a little darkness on the edge of town.
@Larry Betts: sheโll feel like sheโs in the Promised Land tonight
@Brian Dunne: I have a reason to believe if thereโs an incident on 57th Street itโll be a long walk home
@Larry Betts: just dont get Lost In The Flood
@Brian Dunne: Iโll try not to get blinded by the light. Even if I do,there will be better days
@Larry Betts: thats what i like about you Larry, its the Human Touch
@Brian Dunne: Donโt be fooled. Itโs a brilliant disguise
@Larry Betts: well i guess you are from the Badlandsโฆ
He will be happy
Heโll do his crying in the rain
Started taking lessons on the Backstreets if Iโm not mistaken?
@Paul Keane: Yeah,Thunder Road. She would drive all night to get there
Sheโll drive like A Bat Out Of Hell
Hope they go โ Down to the river โ
Theโll go Down To The River To Pray
God almighty you lot, would think that you could do better than that.. a simple congratulations and well done would be great. Maybe she will be dancing in the dark after this. Couldnโt resist that!! just couldnโt..
Sinne Fianna Fรกil, a tรก fรฉ gheall ag รirinn.
She was working on a dream for a long time.
@Twitruser2021: She was waiting for a sunny day
Now sheโs Walking On Sunshine
Born to ride
True She Rides The Finest Horse โฆ. Iโve Ever Seen
Theyโve been waitinโ on that sunny day for a while. Fair play!
She is The Sunshine Of his Life
โa great leaper โฆ.as Ted would say.
A Lovely Lovely Lovely Horse
She was actually the horse. It was a brilliant disguise.