NBA PLAYOFFS

Heat complete Bobcats sweep

Miami Heat's Mario Chalmers, right, shoots over Charlotte Bobcats' Kemba Walker, left, during the first half in Game 4 of an opening-round NBA basketball playoff series in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, April 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Miami Heat's Mario Chalmers, right, shoots over Charlotte Bobcats' Kemba Walker, left, during the first half in Game 4 of an opening-round NBA basketball playoff series in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, April 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - LeBron James heard the cheers from the crowd as he lay on the court holding his right thigh and writhing in pain.

It only seemed to awaken the four-time league MVP.

James scored 19 of his game-high 31 points after sustaining a thigh bruise early in the third quarter, helping the Miami Heat earn a NBA playoffs first-round sweep of the Charlotte Bobcats with a 109-98 victory Monday night. He finished 10 of 19 from the field and had nine assists.

“It’s definitely sore,” James said. “I’m fortunate we were able to close out tonight and I can give it a little rest.”

He should have plenty of time.

The two-time defending NBA champions will await the winner of Brooklyn-Toronto series, which is tied 2-2. If that series goes the distance it won’t wrap up until Sunday.

James said playing Charlotte was a good first test and Miami is headed in the right direction as it looks to win its third consecutive NBA championship.

“We got tested by a young, scrappy Bobcats team,” said James, who averaged 36.2 points in eight games against Charlotte this season. “We responded with a championship-type attitude.”

Chris Bosh added 17 points and Dwyane Wade battled through foul trouble and finished with 15 points as Miami extended its winning streak over Charlotte to 20 games.

The Heat improved to 16-2 in first-round games since James’ arrival four years ago. This was the second consecutive year the Heat swept their first-round series, taking out Milwaukee in four games last season.

This was Miami’s ninth consecutive series victory.

“We improved every game and that’s the most important thing about this series,” James said.

Miami began to take control midway through the third quarter shortly after James gave his teammates a scare when he drove to the basket from the left wing and his right thigh collided with Bismack Biyombo’s knee, sending James to the floor.

Concerned teammates gathered around him and he was down for about a minute.

James eventually got up and hobbled to the bench where sat down during a timeout. But he stayed in the game.

After the timeout he hit a three-pointer and a long jumper before a one-handed dunk to help give Miami a 73-66 lead with 4:51 left in the third quarter. Miami pushed the lead to 13 when Norris Cole knocked down a threepoint buzzer-beater from the right corner at the end of the quarter.

Down the stretch, the Heat went to James time and time again with Wade on the bench with five fouls.

HAWKS 107, PACERS 97

INDIANAPOLIS - Mike Scott made five three-pointers during a 30-6 second-quarter run and Atlanta fended off a furious fourth-quarter rally to beat top-seeded Indiana and take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Scott scored all 17 of his points during a 12-minute stretch when Atlanta went 13 of 16 from the field and outscored Indiana 41-19 to take a 61-40 halftime lead. The Hawks and the 1970 Milwaukee Bucks are the only road teams in the shot-clock era to score at least 40 points and allow fewer than 20 in any quarter of a playoff game., .

SPURS 93, MAVERICKS 89

DALLAS - Manu Ginobili scored 23 points, Boris Diaw hit a go-ahead three-pointer in the final minute and the San Antonio Spurs held off a second-half surge by Dallas to beat the Mavericks.

Playoffs glance

MONDAY’S GAMES

Miami 109, Charlotte 98

Miami wins series 4-0

Atlanta 107, Indiana 97

Atlanta leads series 3-2

San Antonio 93, Dallas 89

Series tied 2-2

TODAY’S GAMES All times Central

Washington at Chicago, 7 p.m.

Washington leads series 3-1

Memphis at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.

Series tied 2-2

Golden State at LA Clippers, 9:30 p.m.

Series tied 2-2

Sports, Pages 17 on 04/29/2014

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