Lou Williams hit a 3-pointer with 8.1 seconds left to lead the 76ers to an 86-82 win over the Miami Heat on Sunday and avoid a sweep.
“I figured a jump shot was going to be our best opportunity to get a shot at the rim,” Williams said. “D-Wade gave me a little room -- I was able to knock it down.”
Miami was 95 seconds away from winning Game 4, holding an 82-76 lead.
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the rest of the Heat didn't score again.
Jrue Holiday made a 3 with 46.6 seconds left that sliced the deficit to one. Williams followed with a 3 from the top of the arc for an 84-82 lead that sent the nearly 20,000 fans into a frenzy.
Williams and Evan Turner led the Sixers with 17 points each. Andre Iguodala added 16 points and Elton Brand had 15 points and 11 rebounds.
James scored 31 points for the Heat and Wade 22. Bosh scored 12 points and had two blocks late in the game that seemed to seal the win for the Heat.
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For the third time this series, the Sixers blew a double-digit lead. This was a 16-point cushion that seemed as though it was never coming back.
Williams had other ideas -- hitting the biggest shot of his career for the improbable win.
Sweet Lou, indeed!
James, Wade and Bosh put the “big” in Big Three. For Bosh, it was the two blocked shots on the same possession with Miami holding a two-point lead late in the game. He blocked Williams' layup and swatted Turner's short jumper.
On Philly's next possession, James blocked Turner's shot.
James hit a step-back jumper for an 80-76 lead.
The Heat, who went on a 22-2 run in the second quarter, appeared in control. But they weren’t at the end.
Game 5 is Wednesday in Miami.
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