The Heat is On as Miami Advances

The Miami Heat rallied.

From an early 12-point deficit, and after dropping Game 1 of this best-of-seven series, Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade led the Heat to post a 4-1 series win. Miami has now recovered from recent adversity.

''Now look at us,'' Dwyane Wade said.

After making the game-clinching defensive play, Dwyane Wade flung the ball deep in the stands, and with it went the baggage, criticism and question marks that littered the road to the Eastern Conference finals.

The Heat beat the Nets 106-105 to close out the Eastern semifinals 4-1, getting 23 points from Antoine Walker and 21 points, six assists and six rebounds from Wade. Now Miami finds itself in the same position as last year, with one opponent standing between itself and the NBA Finals.

''We've won eight games, we want to win 16,'' Heat coach Pat Riley said.

''We're very fortunate to get by the Nets. They're a great team and we did what we had to do on the road to win after coming back from that horrendous start in Game 1. Our team is beginning to become buoyant. They're feeling good about themselves,'' Riley added.

It wasn't until the final seconds ticked off the clock, however, that those good feelings could officially continue. The Nets' perimeter trio of Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter had combined for 86 points, keeping New Jersey in the game until the final second.

After the Nets forced the Heat into a missed shot in its final possession leading by a point, Jefferson recovered the loose ball and called a timeout with 1.4 seconds left.

In the Heat huddle before the final play, Wade asked to defend Carter, New Jersey's No. 1 option, on the play. After a frustrating 7-of-19 offensive showing with seven turnovers, Wade came up with the play on the defensive end to finally stop what has become utter Vinsanity.

The Miami Heat now awaits the winner of the Detroit Pistons - Cleveland Cavaliers series. Can the Heat make it all the way to the NBA Finals? Visit and bet on Bodog today.