(Reuters) - LeBron James produced a blistering 14-point third quarter as the Heat took a commanding 3-1 lead over the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals with a 102-90 win Monday night in Miami.
The Heat led 49-44 at the half, with Chris Bosh having his best performance of the postseason with 17 first-half points, but the home side ran away with the game in the third.
"We got outplayed by the Heat," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "I wasn't disappointed in our fight. I was disappointed in the result."
Miami burst out with a 7-0 streak to grab a 12-point lead and LeBron took charge with two spectacular 3-pointers and a ferocious dunk among his 14 points in the third.
James, who finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, now has 74 career playoff games with at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists, passing Michael Jordan for the most in NBA history. Game 5 of the best-of-seven series is on Wednesday in Indiana.
"We try to get better every single day, every single game," James said. "When you do that and go out and play the type of game that you are capable of playing, you can be satisfied with the results. And that's what we've built over the years."
The Heat are one victory from making their fourth straight NBA Finals appearance. Miami would become only the third franchise to accomplish that feat in NBA history -- joining the Celtics and Lakers.
James' dominant performance was an emphatic response to Lance Stephenson. The Pacers shooting guard said on Monday that the trash-talking between himself and James during Game 3 reveal a sign of weakness in the Heat's player.
"I was trying to get into his head," Stephenson said. "I guess he stepped up and got the win. I can take the heat."
Stephenson wasn't able to take the Heat in Game 4. He finished with just 9 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
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Paul Goerge led the Pacers with 23 points. David West contributed 20 points and 12 rebounds.
Pacers 7-foot-2 center Roy Hibbert, who has had an up-and-down postseason was a no-show performance. He was held scoreless in 22 minutes of action, and grabbed 5 rebounds. Hibbert blamed his poor outing on Vogel's game plan.
"The game plan really wasn't to utilize me as much, I'm just trying to be effective as I can," Hibbert said.
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