A three-point play by James with nine minutes left in the game gave the Heat a brief lead. James, aggressive throughout the game, drove into the jaws of the Celtics’ defense once again to put the Heat ahead. His and-one free throw gave the Heat an 82-81 lead. James was 12 of 17 from the free-throw line.

Moments later Ray Allen bombed a three-pointer from the corner to swing the score back in the Celtics favor.

Like a metronome, the lead seemed to change with every possession the final period. It was basketball at its symphonic best, every player in tune with the moment and performing like masters in Carnegie Hall.

James answered Allen’s three-pointer with a Statue of Liberty dunk that seemed to shake AmericanAirlines Arena to its core. The Heat led 83-82 with eight minutes to play. Amazingly, the lead changed sides eight times in the first four minutes of the period.

Bosh put the Heat ahead by four points with a three-pointer with 7:18 to play. He had two three-pointers in the fourth quarter.

“Game ball automatically goes to [Bosh],” James said. “Without him we don’t win.”

This was not the Heat’s players executing to a game-plan to perfection. No, it was superstars being superstars. Miami’s Big 3 scored the Heat’s final 31 points of the game.

James answer Allen’s three-pointer with his first three-pointer of the game, stroking a cold-blooded shot from the elbow to give the Heat a 91-84 lead. Then, more Bosh.

His hook shot put the Heat ahead by seven points with four minutes to go and moments later he intercepted a lob pass by Rondo. Wade converted to give the Heat a 95-86 advantage.

He wasn’t done. Now it was his turn to lace the building with magic. A three-point play gave Heat a 98-86 lead with 2:53 to play and the celebration began.

The Heat trailed 53-46 to begin the third quarter but, led by Battier, Miami quickly close the gap. Battier drilled a pair of three-pointers in the quarter’s first four minutes, including a three-pointer from the corner that cut Boston’s lead to 59-57. Less than a minute later, Wade tied the game with a 20-footer and the arena exploded. Boston called timeout and Udonis Haslem swung his arms in the arm to keep the crowd going.

Wade swished a 20-footer with 5:46 left in the third to give the Heat its first lead since the first period. From there, the lead changed six times in the final six minutes of the quarter.

It was a sloppy first half for the Heat considering the huge stakes. James, Wade, Chalmers and Bosh each had two turnovers in the first half. In all, the Celtics scored 14 points off 10 Heat turnovers in the first two periods.