Basketball On The Internet.

HOME teams were 89-23 in Game 7s of the NBA playoffs. Miami made it 90-23 today by routing Indiana 99-76 to clinch the Eastern Conference Final, retaining homecourt for the Final against San Antonio Spurs.

As LeBron James spurred his team to victory with 32 points, 18 in the first half, the Heat also exposed the Pacers as at least one year short of the requisite maturity and experience to challenge for the championship.

Despite leading at the first break by a basket, Indiana already had nine turnovers and it was 15 by halftime.

But after that first break, the Heat's experience was more imposing than Roy Hibbert at a pygmy convention, especially with his Indiana team full of players who had never participated in a deciding game.

"We've got so many guys that have played in so many big games on our team that you know they'll show up no matter what," James said.

It would have been a very troubling off-season if the Heat had come up short, with question marks over coach Erik Spoelstra and the continued value of the "Big Three".

But those thoughts were laid to rest - at least until the outcome of the Finals - courtesy of the resurrections of Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Ray Allen.

When the Pacers pulled to 27-28 on two free throws by D.J. Augustin, the Heat went on an 11-2 run for a 10-point lead.

Bosh, Allen and James scored all the points during the flurry which ultimately decided the game and the series, Ray-Ray stroking 3-of-3 threes at one point.

And Wade finished with 21 points, his best return of the series.

For the Pacers, Hibbert and Paul George failed to produce - they were the story of Game 6, combining for 52 points and 19 rebounds - Hibbert limited after collecting his third foul with 1:12 left in the first half.

He finished with 18 points and eight rebounds but was largely ineffective.

George fouled out with seven points on 2-of-9 shooting, Miami ahead by double-digits the entire second half and by as many as 28.

The focus now shifts to the Western Conference champion Spurs, who haven't played since completing their sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies on May 27.

Miami won both regular season meetings but neither team was at full strength in either game.