Heat snatch win to reach finals

Miami Heat centres Shaquille O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning

Miami reached the Eastern Conference finals for the second straight year after a 106-105 win over New Jersey in game five of the semi-finals.

Dwyane Wade was the hero, stealing Jason Kidd's inbounds pass with 1.4 seconds left to deprive the Nets of one last shot to extend their season.

Wade threw the ball into the stands as time expired, and Miami raucously celebrated the victory.

They will face either Detroit or Cleveland in the conference finals.

The finals will not start until at least Sunday afternoon.

In a memorable game, the Heat had to rally from 12 points down, the biggest post-season comeback in franchise history.

Antoine Walker had 23 points for Miami, Wade added 21, 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 before losing four in a row.

Miami had overturned their earlier deficit in style by the time Walker's wide-open 3-pointer from the right corner gave them a 105-99 lead.

But Carter responded with three baskets from in close over the next 90 seconds, including a dunk that drew the Nets to 106-105 with 29 seconds left.

Gary Payton missed a crucial chance before the Nets called time-out with 1.4 seconds left. But thanks to Wade, they never got a shot off - and Miami survived.