Miami finishes off Nets

MIAMI -- Dwyane Wade struggled all night offensively, so he sent the Miami Heat into the Eastern Conference finals with a huge defensive play.

Wade stole Jason Kidd's inbounds pass with 1.4 seconds left Tuesday night, depriving the New Jersey Nets of one last shot to extend their season, and sealing the Heat's 106-105 victory to win the series 4-1.

Wade threw the ball into the stands as time expired, and the Heat raucously celebrated their second straight trip to the conference finals. They'll face either Detroit or Cleveland in that series, which won't begin until at least Sunday afternoon.

The Heat rallied from 12 points down, the biggest postseason comeback in franchise history. Antoine Walker had 23 points for Miami, Wade added 21 on 7-for-19 shooting, and four other Heat players were in double figures to offset a brilliant effort by Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson.

Carter and Jefferson each scored 33 points for the Nets, who won the first game of the series.

The Heat became the sixth team in 20 seasons to lose the first game of a playoff series, then immediately win the next four to advance.

Shaquille O'Neal had 17 points on 8-for-10 shooting, Jason Williams scored 12, Alonzo Mourning had 11 and Payton finished with 10 for the Heat.

Cavs mourn in St. Louis

LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers teammates took a solemn break from their playoff series Tuesday to attend the funeral of the 20-year-old brother of guard Larry Hughes.

The Cavaliers flew to St. Louis after beating the Detroit Pistons 74-72 Monday night to even the best-of-7 second-round playoff series at 2-2. Hughes has missed the past two games -- both wins -- to be with his family following Justin Hughes' death last week.

Hundreds of people attended the service for Justin Hughes, who was born with a heart defect and had a transplant in 1997.