CHICAGO (AP) - LeBron James scored 27 points and the Miami Heat nearly matched a franchise record for points allowed in a playoff game, pounding the listless and short-handed Chicago Bulls 88-65 on Monday night to take a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The 65 points allowed were only two more than the all-time postseason low for a Miami opponent, and it was easily the worst offensive performance by a Chicago team.
Never before had the Bulls scored fewer than 69 in a playoff game nor 10 or less in a quarter during the postseason, but both those marks fell on a night when they were dominated on both ends.
Miami led by 11 at the half and put this one away in the third quarter, outscoring Chicago 17-9 in the period. Now the Heat will try to wrap up the series at home on Wednesday night, taking what they hope will be the next step toward a second straight championship.
Carlos Boozer had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the injured and short-handed Bulls.
GRIZZLIES 103, THUNDER 97, OT
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Tony Allen scored on a driving layup to open overtime and Memphis held off Oklahoma City to push the defending Western Conference champions to the edge of elimination.
The Grizzlies shook off a first half in which they couldn't hit shots and the Thunder seemingly couldn't miss in building their largest lead in this series at 17 points. But the Grizzlies have yet to lose on their home court this postseason, and they won their third straight and seventh in eight games to grab a 3-1 lead in the series.
Game 5 is Wednesday night in Oklahoma City.
The Grizzlies outscored the Thunder 9-3 in overtime.
Kevin Durant scored 27 points but missed all five of his shots in overtime.