Bosh fires Heat to Win over Lakers

MIAMI (Reuters) - Chris Bosh strengthened to help the Miami Heat star to a five-game series with a 94-88 victory over two-time NBA champion to defend the Lakers in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Bosh, who had complained about his limited role in the team's offense during the Depression led to 24 points and nine rebounds for Miami as the leader of south-east heat to secure playoff berth.

"I was aggressive coming to the ball, but were uninterested left me," said Bosh. "I was not playing. I just wanted to focus on going hard."

When the game tied 88-88, Miami, Dwyane Wade had the ball in Kobe Bryant and LeBron James has sent a clear undisputed embed with 1:27 still, that the Heat ahead for good.

"It was an opportunity to really just keep our composure and execute down the stretch, stopping when the pressure was on the game when the pressure is on," said Bosh.

"It 's been there during the last three minutes. I think our mind and psyche, it was very important."

Wade added another field goal and James secured the victory with two free throws with 19 seconds at the end of the Lakers sequence of eight consecutive victories.

"We must move forward," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.

"The most important thing to go through a stretch like that, men are not close. The kids want to do this work. The more we are, the more convinced that we will succeed.

"But it's a game we're not on the mound. We still need to improve and improve."

Very low score in the third quarter, the Lakers have threatened to take command of the race game 9-0 to create a game high six-point lead, but the heat stopped their momentum and lead shaved to two points going to the previous quarter.

"I think they (Miami) can play better than them," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "I hope to see later this year."