Jame leads Heat to brink of NBA finals

NBA: LeBron James scored 35 points, Chris Bosh added 22 and the Miami Heat moved within one win of the NBA finals with a wild 101-93 overtime victory over the Chicago Bulls in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference title series on Tuesday night in Miami.

Dwyane Wade scored six of his 14 points in the final 2:08 for Miami, which has won three straight for a 3-1 lead in the best-of-7 series.

Game 5 is Thursday in Chicago.

Derrick Rose scored 23 points for the Bulls, who got 20 apiece from Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer. Chicago has lost three straight games for the first time this season.

• Bulls’ Noah OK with fine: Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah said the NBA’s decision to fine him $50,000 for directing an anti-gay slur toward a fan is “fair.”

“I made a mistake, learned from it and moved on,” Noah said. “That’s about it.”

Television cameras caught Noah using a profanity, followed by the slur, after returning to the Chicago bench in the opening quarter of Game 3 Monday night in Miami.

• Players’ Association files charge against league: The NBA players’ association filed an unfair labor charge against the league with the National Labor Relations Board, a move it hopes could block a lockout it feels owners want.

The union says the NBA hasn’t bargained in good faith, has made financial demands without offering concessions to the players, and has bypassed the union to deal directly with players.

Canucks advance to Stanley Cup finals

NHL Playoffs: Kevin Bieksa scored 10:18 into the second overtime and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in 17 years with a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks at Vancouver, British Columbia.

The Canucks ended the Western Conference finals in five games after getting even in the closing seconds of regulation when Ryan Kesler scored with goalie Roberto Luongo on the Vancouver bench for an extra skater.

It will be Vancouver’s first trip to the Cup finals since 1994, when the Canucks lost in seven games to the New York Rangers.

Rookie event called off due to lockout

NFL: The NFL has canceled next month’s rookie symposium, the first league event called off because of the lockout.

League spokesman Greg Aiello said the decision was made because of “the uncertainty of the labor issues we are facing and the logistical challenges of conducting the symposium.”

The symposium, which was to begin in Canton, Ohio, on June 26, instructs rookies in money management and life skills and allows them to meet current and former players.

• League to punish teams for hits: The NFL will punish teams next season if their players commit multiple flagrant hits that result in fines.

The punishment will be financial, although league vice president Adolpho Birch said he didn’t rule out Commissioner Roger Goodell applying further sanctions such as stripping clubs of draft choices.

Nadal survives tough match against Isner

Tennis: Rafael Nadal excelled when he needed to most, winning the final two sets against John Isner to advance to the second round at the French Open in Paris, with a 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-4 victory.

The five-time champion, who improved to 39-1 at Roland Garros, played a five-set match at Roland Garros for the first time in seven visits.

Also advancing to the second round were Australian Open finalists Andy Murray and Li Na, as well as Maria Sharapova, Kim Clijsters and two-time French Open finalist Robin Soderling.

• USC wins NCCA men’s title: Daniel Nguyen downed Sanam Singh 7-5, 0-6, 6-4 to give Southern California a 4-3 victory over Virginia in Stanford, Calif., for the Trojans’ third straight NCAA men’s tennis title.

• Florida takes NCAA women’s championship: Lauren Embree survived a grueling third set tiebreaker to beat Mallory Burdette, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (6) and clinch the national title for Florida in Stanford, Calif.

Woods plans to play in U.S. Open in June

Miscellany: Tiger Woods says he’ll be ready to go for the U.S. Open.

The golfing great hasn’t hit a ball in about two weeks. Woods needs crutches and a walking boot for relief on his aching left leg.

But Woods expects to tee off at the U.S. Open June 16-19 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md.

• Kootenay rallies to win, stays alive at Memorial Cup: Matt Frasier scored at 3:55 of overtime as the Kootenay Ice kept their Memorial Cup hopes alive with a 5-4 victory over the Saint John Sea Dogs in Mississauga, Ontario.

Frasier scored twice, and Drew Czerwonka, Kevin King and Jesse Ismond had the other goals for WHL champion Kootenay.

• Contador increases lead at Giro d’Italia: Alberto Contador has won a mountain time trial at Belluno, Italy, to increase his already commanding lead in the Giro d’Italia.

The Spaniard completed the 7.9-mile 16th stage from Belluno to Nevegal in 28 minutes, 55 seconds.