CHICAGO -- With two seconds to go and the game on the line, LeBron James soared for what could have been a game-winning stuff. Instead, the King got stuffed in the air by 6-foot-11 Mason Plumlee, who appeared to have made hand contact.
James cried foul but with no foul called, the Brooklyn Nets preserved an 88-87 victory at the American Airlines Arena.
It was double the misery for the Heat. Not only were they swept by the Nets, 4-0, in their season series, their record fell to 53-24, just a screen door away from Indiana's 53-25 for the best record and home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Four Nets led the parade of scorers who finished with double figures in points. Joe Johnson had 19 and Marcus Thornton added 16. Paul Pierce drilled 5-of-8 jumpers for 14 while Mirza Teletovic contributed 11 as Brooklyn swished 36 of 68 field goals, a high 52.9 percent.
Despite being rebuked in the altar of last-second heroics, James still finished with an efficient 29 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Chris Bosh had 12 and Norris Cole tallied 10, but no other Heat broke the double-digit scoring barrier. (Homer D. Sayson)
Photo: LeBron James (L) found his late-game dunk foiled by Mason Plumlee (R) in the Nets' 88-87 in over the Heat Tuesday night.
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