NBA: Heat a win away from the Eastern Conference finals after routing Bulls

The Miami Heat are now a win away from a return to the Eastern Conference Finals, dominating the Chicago Bulls on the road, 88-65, Monday (Tuesday, PHL time) at the United Center in Chicago.

Despite a host of injuries, the Bulls looked primed to make this a series, winning the first game 93-86 in Miami. However, it's been all Heat since then, as the defending champions won 115-78 and 104-94 for a 2-1 lead entering this game.

The Bulls have only been held below 70 points in a playoff game once-- by Pistons in 2007.

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 14, 2013

The all-time playoff low by a Heat opponent is 63 by New Orleans on April 21, 2004. The Bulls' playoff low is 69.

— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) May 14, 2013

It was just the second time Chicago had been held under 70 points in a playoff game. Their previous low for offense was 69 markers against the Detroit Pistons in 2007.

Chicago drew first blood on a Carlos Boozer put-back, 2-0, but Miami countered with 11 unanswered, with 7:31 remaining in the first quarter, as the Bulls started 1-of-12 from the field. The home team managed to get within six, 21-15, by the end of the period, but nine markers from LeBron James in the second made it an 11-point affair, 44-33, heading into the break.

Things reached their low point after the break, as the Heat defense was simply locked in. The visiting side held Chicago to a mere two field goals on 15.4 percent shooting in the 12 minutes, and conceded only nine points.

The finishing blow came from James, who scored 10 in the final canto, before being substituted out. The likes of Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson, and Richard Hamilton tried their best to make the final score more respectable, but ultimately, the Heat were just too much for them to handle.

LeBron James finished with 27 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and two steals. Chris Bosh added 14 markers, while the Heat bench provided 29 markers all-in-all.

Dwyane Wade was held to six points on 3-of-10 shooting. He played just 28 minutes and was limited due to additional pain in his right knee.

Chicago got 14 markers from Carlos Boozer, but he needed 14 attempts from the field. The power forward also hauled in 12 rebounds and came up with three steals. Jimmy Butler added 12, while the bench duo of Richard Hamilton and Taj Gibson combined for 21, 13 coming in the fourth quarter with the game already decided.

The Bulls point guards were particularly woeful. Nate Robinson and Marquis Teague combined for a 0-14 outing, along with no points scored for Chicago. The rookie Teague however was responsible for accidentally tipping in the ball into the Heat's basket.

Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich and Derrick Rose continued to ride the Chicago bench due to injuries.

The team as a whole also turned in a nightmare performance, shooting just 25.7 percent from the field. Their 19 made field goals, out of 74 attempts, was just two more than the number of turnovers they committed.

Chicago also failed to break the 20-point barrier until the final quarter.

Game five is scheduled for Wednesday (Thursday, PHL time) in Miami. - AMD, GMA News