Cutting Down the Nets in Miami, Heat Advance to Conference Finals (Video)

After a late collapse by the Nets, the Miami Heat seize Game Five 96-94 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

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We hate to say it, but Brooklyn just figured out why the NBA regular season doesn't mean squat. After pulling off the only season sweep of the Heat this season, the Nets dropped both games Four and Five late to get bounced from the Playoffs as Miami advanced to the Conference Finals for the fourth consecutive year.

Brooklyn looked to be in control down the stretch, but a late 12-0 run by the Heat (or a choke by the Nets, your call), punctuated by a Ray Allen three in the corner (stop us if you've heard that before), gave the South Floridians a lead that they wouldn't relinquish. That's not to say Brooklyn didn't have their opportunities. The biggest chance for the Nets to pull it out late came in the games final possession. After they nearly failed to inbound the ball, Joe Johnson (who played a helluva game with 34 points tonight) was unable to get off a shot. As the clocked ticked to 0.0 reality set in and the Nets threw up their hands in frustration.

The Heat, who got 29 from LeBron and 28 from Dwyane Wade, celebrated along with the home crowd. With the victory they became the first team to win a playoff series against a foe who went 4-0 against them during the actual season. Now they can sit back and relax while they wait to find out who's up next: The Indiana Pacers or the Washington Wizards.

Stay tuned.

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