The Miami Heat defeated the Boston Celtics 99-90 Sunday in the Eastern Conference semifinals, taking a 1-0 series lead. Guard Dwyane Wade scored a game-high 38 points while reserve forward James Jones added 25 points, including five 3-pointers. Forward LeBron James added 22 points, six rebounds and five assists.
The Heat led throughout, staving off several mini-runs by the Celtics. The action hit a boil when Paul Pierce was ejected in the fourth quarter after being called for his second technical foul. Pierce finished with 19 points. Guard Ray Allen led Boston with 25 points.
In the other conference semi-final game of the day, Memphis and Zach Randolph began against OKC where they had left off in the previous round. The Grizzlies super star scored 34 points to lead his team to the opening victory of the series despite 33 points and 11 rebounds from Kevin Durant.