Heat notebook

Miami Heat to face a familiar foe: Indiana Pacers

The Heat now knows who will it play in the Eastern Conference finals, and it knows that opponent quite well. 1368939737

IN MY OPINION

Dan Le Batard: Support is what keeps Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade afloat

Dwyane Wade watched Kevin Durant against Memphis, and it was like watching a flailing man drown, wave after wave crashing upon him until he had no breath to give. Durant averaged 29 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists per game in the series that ended his season. Those were not merely better than the averages Durant posted in this, the best regular season of his young life. Those were not merely better averages than the ones that just won LeBron James his fourth NBA MVP award. Those were better averages than the ones that represent Michael Jordan’s entire career. But Durant’s season is over now, and Wade watched it happen through what felt like a rearview mirror. 1368939737

A PROM NIGHT TO REMEMBER

Dwyane Wade surprises Miami teen at prom

Persistence paid off for an Archbishop Coleman Carroll senior. She asked (and asked) and ultimately received Dwyane Wade as her prom date. 1368939737

Greg Cote: Knicks would have been spicier matchup for Miami Heat

Miami Heat players have been steadfastly neutral in claiming no preference as they waited for Indiana and New York to figure out which would play the underdog in the NBA’s upcoming Eastern Conference finals. Confident champions do not deign to worry about who’s next; they leave the worrying to opponents. The lion who runs the jungle does not much care if he is feasting on zebra or antelope, after all. 1368937241

Heat | LeBron James

Ray Allen’s help paying dividends for LeBron James, Miami Heat

LeBron James has seen his free-throw average rise during the playoffs after enlisting the help of teammate and specialist Ray Allen. 1368932736

Heat | Dwyane Wade

Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade stays the course resiliently

Dwyane Wade’s fourth-quarter performance in the Heat’s series clincher against the Bulls was just another stepping-stone on his ‘journey.’

Game 5 | Heat 94, Bulls 91

Miami Heat eliminates Chicago Bulls, advances to Eastern Conference Finals

Fueled by dunks by Norris Cole and Dwyane Wade late, the Heat eliminated a proud but wounded Bulls team.

IN MY OPINION

Linda Robertson: Chicago Bulls gasp as Miami Heat cuts lifeline

Early on, it appeared the spent and sore Chicago Bulls were going to take their medicine and go home for some well-deserved R&R.

IN MY OPINION

Greg Cote: Dwyane Wade’s heroics help Miami Heat in comeback

Welcome back, Dwyane Wade.

Chicago Bulls

Chicago Bulls show heart in face of adversity

Although they were eliminated from the playoffs in five games by the Heat, the gritty Bulls fought to the end and never gave up.

Heat | bench

Reserves spark Miami Heat comeback

Shane Battier and Norris Cole combined for 13 points in the fourth quarter, providing the boost the Heat needed to rally for a victory.

Heat notebook

Miami Heat awaits winner of Knicks-Pacers series; tickets on sale Thursday

Just as it did after dispatching the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, the Heat could face another long layoff before its next playoff series.

MIAMI HEAT

Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade intends to play despite painful knee injury: ‘It is what it is’

Dwyane Wade’s right knee is virtually being held together by bandages, and he’s averaging 11.3 points in the Bulls series. But he wants to keep playing.

IN MY OPINION

David J. Neal: Miami Heat must play matador and slay Chicago Bulls

Can the Heat please put this series out of our misery Wednesday night?

Heat notebook

Erik Spoelstra plays Miami Heat point guards more

During key moments in the past year, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra often would navigate key late-game stretches without a natural point guard, opting instead for Shane Battier and Ray Allen to play alongside the Big 3.

Gossip extra

Miami Heat’s ‘middle finger lady’ apologizes to fans

Socialite Filomena Tobias — the Miami Heat’s middle finger lady — came out of her self-imposed silence before Wednesday night’s Heat-Bulls game and apologized for her behavior during the series’ Game 2.

Game 4: Heat 88, Bulls 65

Miami Heat pummels Chicago Bulls, takes 3-1 lead in series

This is like watching a barely conscious prizefighter being pummeled against the ropes but unable to fall — hard to watch but harder to look away.

IN MY OPINION

Greg Cote: Miami Heat’s playoff health tied to Dwyane Wade

Most of the unusually low numbers from this game should delight Heat fans. Those numbers stunk up this city Monday night and all but required the Bulls arena to be immediately fumigated following this NBA playoff series Game 4 here. Those numbers were Chicago’s meager 65 points scored on abysmal 25.7 percent shooting — both owing largely to a Miami defense that is that good, yes.

Bulls | Offensive struggles

Awful shooting seals Chicago Bulls’ fate in Game 4

Injuries were a big enough problem for the Bulls — and then they shot 25.7 percent and set a team playoff mark for fewest points (65).