News » ates. "To work so hard and to get to where we are now

MIAMI -- For the entirety of the regular season, the supremacy of the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference was brought into serious question by the Indiana Pacers. Then came the playoffs. And the question was answered -- emphatically. The Heat became the third franchise in NBA history to reach the title series in four consecutive seasons, a laugher of a conference-title finale getting them there again Friday night. LeBron James and Chris Bosh each scored 25 points, and Miami eliminated the Pacers for the third straight year with a 117-92 romp in Game 6 of the East championship series. "Im blessed. Very blessed. Very humbled," James said. "And we wont take this opportunity for granted. Its an unbelievable franchise, its an unbelievable group. And we know we still have work to do, but we wont take this for granted. Were going to four straight Finals and we will never take this for granted." Dwyane Wade and Rashard Lewis each scored 13 points for Miami, which trailed 9-2 before ripping off 54 of the next 75 points to erase any doubt by halftime. The Heat set a franchise record with their 11th straight home post-season win, going back to the final two games of last seasons NBA Finals, leading by 37 at one point. "The group loves to compete and loves to compete at the highest level, and be pushed to new levels," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. Indiana led the East for much of the regular season, one where the Pacers were fueled by the memory of losing Game 7 of the East finals in Miami a year ago. So they spent this season with a clear goal: Toppling Miami as kings of the East. The Pacers were two games better in the regular season. They were two games worse in the post-season. Game 7, this time, would have been in Indianapolis. The Pacers just had no shot of making it happen, not on this night. "Its bitterly disappointing to fall short of our goals," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "Its bitterly disappointing to lose to this team three years in a row. But were competing against the Michael Jordan of our era, the Chicago Bulls of our era, and you have to tip your hats to them for the way they played this whole series." Paul George had 29 points for Indiana, David West scored 16 and Lance Stephenson -- booed all night -- finished with 11. "No regrets. All of us played hard. They were just the better team, and they won," Stephenson said. So now, the Celtics and Lakers have some company. Until Friday, they were the only teams in NBA history to reach the Finals in four straight years. The Heat have joined them, and their quest for a third straight title starts in either San Antonio or Oklahoma City on Thursday night. "Its all about 15 special men and what theyve been able to accomplish these last four years," said Heat managing general partner Micky Arison, who handed the East title trophy to Greg Oden. "Just a little bit more work to do, but Im really proud of the incredible job that these guys have done." The way they played in Game 6 made a prophet out of Bosh, who predicted Miami would play its best game of the season. The numbers suggested he was right, and then some. Miamis largest lead at any point this season, before Game 6, was 36 points. Indianas largest deficit of the season had been 35 points. After a layup by James with 3:39 left in the third, the margin in this one was a whopping 37 -- 86-49. James night ended not long afterward. "It was just one of those games that we want to play from beginning to end," Bosh said. "Here on our home court, we wanted to make a statement." There were the now-requisite Stephenson events, adding intrigue to the first half. The Indiana guard walked over to James and tapped him in the face in the opening minutes, stood over him after both got tangled under the basket, and got whistled for a flagrant foul for striking Norris Cole in the head in the second quarter. It was the end of a memorable series for Stephenson, none of which really had anything to do with basketball. His string of newsworthy moments from these East finals started when he talked about the health of Wades knees before the series and reached an apex in Game 5 when he blew into James ear and walked into a Heat huddle. When it was over, Stephenson went out and shook hands with plenty of Heat players, as did the rest of his teammates. "To work so hard and to get to where we are now really hurts," Stephenson said. The Heat were bothered by it all -- "angry," Spoelstra confessed -- but got the last laugh. Big Brother, again, reigned supreme in this rivalry. Vogel was using the big brother-little brother analogy earlier in the series, telling the tale of how at some point in every sibling rivalry the younger one has to make a stand. Indiana thought it would happen now. The Heat, obviously, had other ideas. "Theyve won championships," West said Friday when asked if the Pacers considered themselves Miamis equal. "No, were not equal." West said those words about eight hours before game time. They were in no dispute at nights end. NOTES: James appeared in what became his 100th playoff victory. ... The Pacers are now 7-12 against Miami in the last three postseasons, and 20-10 against everybody else. ... Wade and Udonis Haslem are going to the NBA Finals for the fifth time in nine seasons -- with a 15-67 season on their record during that stretch as well. ... Chris Andersen returned from a thigh injury, scoring nine points and grabbing 10 rebounds in 13 minutes for Miami. Anthony Rizzo Jersey . "After consultation with the Team USA medical staff and officials, it was determined that he should return to Winnipeg as a precaution due to his previous injury history," Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said Wednesday in a statement. Javier Baez Jersey . I wondered how NHL coaches would feel about a playoff schedule that allowed them to open a best-of-seven series on the road, which many claim to favour, yet still gave them the precious home-ice edge for a seventh game. http://www.cubsauthentic.com/cubs-ernie-banks-jersey/. The England international raised his middle finger toward Manchester City supporters during Saturdays game at Etihad Stadium, which Arsenal lost 6-3. The incident was not seen by match officials at the time but the FA charged Wilshere retrospectively after a study of video footage. Carlos Zambrano Jersey .com) - The Chicago Cubs reportedly signed recently-acquired outfielder Dexter Fowler to a one-year contract on Friday, avoiding arbitration. Ryne Sandberg Jersey . 98 jersey in a game yet, and already its a big seller.Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson meet in Dublin as they battle it out for the World Grand Prix crown, live on Sky Sports 1. Anderson and Van Gerwen last met in a major televised final in the Premier League which Anderson won, coming out on top in 2015 when both men averaged in excess of 105 in a classic.John Part believes we are going to see more of the same on Saturday when the action gets underway from 8.30pm. Anderson books MVG date Report from Friday nights semi-finals The two pearls of the tournament are going to be battling it out - it was an excellent night of darts and Michael is the number one in the world but Gary is the world champ, said Part. I believe it will really be an epic final and I think it will go pretty deep, if not all the way because they will not give in to each other, they just wont.They both looked good, they are ready for each other and there is no surprises - its in front of them what they have to do. We will see the two best players in the tournament by far in a real clash of the titans. Michael van Gerwen came back from 2-1 down to beat Dave Chisnall 4-2 and reach the final of the World Grand Prix Anderson was below par in his quarter-final win over Kim Huybrechts but averaged just under 99 in seeing off Raymond van Barneveld in an impressive semi-final display.Not to be outdone MVG, winner of the UK Open, World Matchplay and Premier League already this year, averaged just under 100 to see off a game Dave Chisnall.The averages underline the quality of Saturdays finalists and while some are overawed by Van Gerwen, Part believes Anderson will rise to the challenge of the facing the world number one.I think that Gary has never been bothered by playing against MVG and he will just get in there and think he has every right to win - MVG will obviously think the same thing, he said. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. Anderson doesnt have to stop Van Gerwen, he just has to be Gary Anderson and not worry about Michael and just take his chances and I think thats how Gary Anderson becomes the champ.ddddddddddddAnderson claimed his second successive world title in January this year but the back-to-back world champion has yet to stamp his mark on the other majors, this will be his first World Grand Prix final and he is yet to win the Matchplay. Anderson sets up MVG final Gary Anderson beats Raymond van Barneveld; Michael van Gerwen sinks Dave Chisnall in World GP But Part believes that will add fuel to the fire - and he is speaking from experience.It means a lot to Gary. I think as an ex-world champion myself I was a little disappointed that I never cracked the Matchplay or the Grand Prix because they are the longest running in the PDC, so I can relate to how I think Gary might really want to take this title, Part added.It is a short turnaround to play a major final of this status in just one day but its good to have them playing equally well and standing up to good performances against them. Gary Anderson beat Raymond van Barneveld 4-1 to reach his first final in Dublin For now, Part is relishing the showdown between the two best players in the game at the moment: It doesnt get much better than the world champion against the world number one. I think MVG might set the pace early but it is hard to say that because Gary can be so explosive. I guess it will come down to the doubling in and who gets away with the 160s more often. They will both be good…really good so it will come down to a missed double here and there and maybe a high out shot here and there but they will be pretty level.You can follow all the action from Saturdays final with our live blog and on Sky Sports 1 from 8.30pm. Also See: Anderson sets up MVG final Semi-finals as they happened Grand Prix results/schedule WATCH: James Joyce and darts? 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