Basketball On The Internet.

THE Heat are the first team through to an NBA Conference Final after putting down Chicago's challenge 94-91 today in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference semi series.

The  win made it a 4-1 success for Miami and four straight wins since it lost the first game - and at home - to the depleted Bulls.

But who can even remember that now?

LeBron James scored 23 points and Dwyane Wade 18 as Miami returned to the Eastern Final for the third straight year, waiting for the winner of the Indiana-New York series, the Pacers ahead 3-1.

The Knicks slumped home from Indianapolis mouthing the customary hollow bravado ahead of tomorrow's Game 5. But it is unlikely the Heat will be facing anyone other than the Pacers next.

The Bulls did not go without a whimper, leading by 11 in the second half before Miami rallied, outscoring the visitors 25-14 in the last quarter.

Chris Bosh with 12 points and Udonis Haslem 10 had Miami out to a 22-4 lead, before Chicago outscored the Heat by an amazing 29 points over the next 27 minutes.

Carlos Boozer had 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Bulls, Nate Robinson and Jimmy Butler missing potential tying three-point shots as Chicago's season ended with a thud.

Despite Chicago's great mid-game rally, the contrast in the team's attitude going into the match best was reflected by Joakim Noah.

In the aftermath of a potentially shattering home loss to the Nets and aware of the daunting challenge of a road Game 7, he resolutely said: "I want to go play right now.

"We're going to go into a hostile environment in Brooklyn and we're going to win."

Contrast that to what he said post-game on Tuesday after falling into a 1-3 hole against the Heat.

"We feel like if we can go down there and get one in Miami, that would be great," he said.

Yeah, it would be. It was just never going to happen.