MIAMI, (Reuters) – LeBron James and the Miami Heat took firm control of the Eastern Conference’s second seed with a crushing 100-77 triumph over the Boston Celtics on Sunday.
Using a smothering defensive effort that held Boston to 37 second-half points, the Heat (56-24) moved one game in front of Boston with two games remaining to give them inside position on home-court advantage in a potential second-round playoff series between the two teams.
James had a game-high 27 points and seven assists while Dwyane Wade added 14 points as the two All-Star players earned their first victory of the season against a team that has haunted them over the past few postseasons.
The Celtics (55-25) have knocked James out of the playoffs in two of the last three years while vanquishing Wade’s Heat team in the first round last year.
“They are a really good team, we came out with a lot of energy and effort and it was really good to get a win,” James told reporters. “We know it starts defensively. Anytime someone was beaten we stepped over and continued to fly around.
