NBA: Wade provides lift in return as Heat top Bucks

Dwyane Wade made a triumphant return to the Miami Heat after a 21-month absence, helping his original franchise to a 91-85 win over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night at AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami.

Wade did not put up big numbers -- three points, two rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 22 minutes off the bench - but he provided an emotional lift that was needed by Miami to end its slump.

Tyler Johnson scored a team-high 19 points as Miami snapped a five-game losing streak. Heat center Hassan Whiteside added 12 points and a game-high 16 rebounds, and rookie Bam Adebayo had 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Milwaukee, led by All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo's 23 points and 11 rebounds, had its three-game win streak snapped. Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe added 19 points.

However, Antetokounmpo was held to 8-of-21 shooting. He shot just 3-of-14 through three quarters, when the Heat built an 18-point lead.

The Wade-Heat divorce after the 2015-2016 season featured bitter feelings on both sides. Wade felt the Heat did not prioritize him in free agency and ultimately bolted to the Chicago Bulls.

On Thursday, the Heat sent a second-round pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers, bringing Wade back to the franchise that drafted him and the city in which he won three NBA titles in 13 seasons.

Early on, though, it was all Milwaukee, as the Bucks got off to a fast start at 9-0. But Wade, who entered the game with 5:19 left in the first quarter, gave Miami some juice.

Wade got a rebound on his first defensive possession and set up Whiteside for an alley-oop on his first offensive possession. Wade also had a block and a 3-pointer in the first period, as Miami cut its deficit to 23-19.

Milwaukee maintained its four-point lead, taking a 46-42 advantage into halftime. Wade missed all three of his second-quarter shots and was minus-seven at the half. As a team, Miami shot just 34.9 percent in the first half. Milwaukee shot 44.7 percent.

Miami surged ahead in the third quarter, using a 13-0 run to take a 72-54 lead. Miami outscored the Bucks 30-8 in the third quarter, holding Milwaukee to 23.5 percent shooting.

The Bucks, who cut their deficit to 85-81 on a 3-pointer by Bledsoe with 54 seconds remaining, couldn't make enough plays down the stretch to come back.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Dragic powers Heat in win over Pelicans

MIAMI -- Goran Dragic showed no ill effects from an eye injury, scoring 33 points to power the Miami Heat to a 120-112 NBA win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.

Dragic, of Slovenia, suffered an injury to his right eye last week when he was elbowed by Cory Joseph of the Toronto Raptors. He had to miss Sunday's Heat loss to Indiana because his eye was swollen shut.

The 30-year-old however proved to be a quick healer, making 11 of 18 shots from the field including five of nine from beyond the arc against the Pelicans at AmericanAirlines Arena.

"My eye is fine," he said, "as long as I don't get hit."

Dragic did get popped in the final quarter. But he took the blow on the mouth and spit up some blood.

"Even the ref said, 'I saw it,'" Dragic said. "I said, 'Why didn't you call it?'"

Dragic finished just one point shy of his season-high total and compiled his sixth 30-plus performance of the season.

Heat center Hassan Whiteside had a double-double with 20 points and 17 points, while reserve guard Wayne Ellington had 19 points.

Miami wasn't the only team battling injuries to key players on Wednesday. Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis, who injured his right ankle in New Orleans' Tuesday contest, had 27 points and eight rebounds Wednesday.

He suffered a bloody left arm in the second quarter but managed to get treatment and play through it.

The Heat improved to 22-5 in their past 27 games, continuing their bid for an Eastern Conference postseason spot.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Westbrook's triple-double fuels Thunder

LOS ANGELES -- Russell Westbrook's 52nd career triple-double powered the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 106-94 NBA victory over the Heat in Miami on Tuesday.

Westbrook scored 29 points, pulled down 17 rebounds and handed out 11 assists, securing a triple-double with 6:40 to play in the third period. It was his 15th triple-double of the season and his sixth of the campaign to be achieved through only three quarters.

Going into Tuesday's four games, the rest of the league had 18 triple-doubles this season.

When he pulled down a rebound in the third quarter to reach double-digits in three statistical categories, he joined Oscar Robertson as the only players to record 30 triple-doubles in a calendar year -- that total stretching back to the latter part of last season.

Robertson remains the only player to average a triple-double over a complete season, which he did in the 1961-62 campaign.


Along with Westbrook's dominance, Oklahoma City out-scored the Heat 58-32 in the paint. Thunder center Enes Kanter of Turkey scored 19 points and big man Steven Adams of New Zealand added 15.

The Thunder also had 16-4 advantage in fast-break points and out-rebounded the Heat 46-32.

The Heat, playing without injured Goran Dragic, Josh McRoberts and Dion Waiters, were led by Josh Richardson, who matched his career high of 22 points.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Pistons find range to douse Heat in Miami

The Detroit Pistons have had their best long distance shooting performances against the Miami Heat so far this season.

The Pistons made 15 3-pointers Tuesday night and erased an early 18-point deficit in a 93-92 victory over the Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena.

The outcome ironically came down to a pair of jumpers that the Heat missed.

Heat guard Dwyane Wade had a chance to give the Heat (16-11) the lead in the closing seconds, but missed a pull-up jumper that was rebounded by Pistons forward Andre Drummond with 1.9 seconds left.


 Drummond left the door open for Miami, however, when he missed two subsequent free throws.

But Heat forward Chris Bosh missed on an open look with a foot on the 3-point line at the buzzer as the shot bounced off the rim. A replay later showed that the shot would not have counted as time expired with the ball still on Bosh's hand.

Detroit (17-12) made a season-high 16 3-pointers in its first game against the Heat on Nov. 25 which resulted in a 104-81 victory.

On Tuesday, the Pistons won their fifth game in their past six, largely by making seven triples in the second quarter as they outscored the Heat 36-18 following a 34-18 first quarter in favor of the Heat.

After suffering its worst defeat of the season the last time it faced the Pistons, the Heat put an emphasis on starting strong.

The Pistons entered the game shooting only 32.7 percent from 3-point range, but shot 15 of 29 (51.7 percent) after shooting 16 of 31 (51.6 percent) in their first meeting.

Detroit made 10 3-pointers in the first half as guards Stanley Johnson and Miami-native Steve Blake each hit four.

Guard Reggie Jackson led the Pistons with 18 points. Guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit a 3 with 2:01 left in fourth to give the Pistons the lead and finished with 14 points. Johnson also finished with 14 points and Blake had 12. Drummond scored 11 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.

Bosh finished with 20 points and Wade had 19.

Heat center Hassan Whiteside finished with 16 points and 16 rebounds.

But contrary to the Pistons' red-hot long-range shooting, Miami shot only four of 18 from 3-point range (22.2 percent). (Editing by Nick Mulvenney)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Heat down Celtics; Nets hold off Pistons

Heat 100, Celtics 84

Forward Luol Deng had 23 points as Miami snapped its five-game home losing streak, defeating Boston at AmericanAirlines Arena.

The skid at home was the Heat's longest since March of 2008. Even with the win, the Heat are just 5-9 at home this season. That's in contrast to last season, when the Heat went 32-9 at home.

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Nets 110, Pistons 105

Center Mason Plumlee collected 21 points and 12 rebounds and Brooklyn held on for a victory over Detroit at Barclays Center.

Making his seventh straight start in place of Brook Lopez (back), Plumlee shot 9-of-10, had four dunks and posted his fourth double-double, equaling his total in 70 games from his rookie season.

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Suns 104, Wizards 92

Forward Markieff Morris and guard Eric Bledsoe each scored 17 points, guard Goran Dragic tallied 12 of his 16 points in the decisive third quarter as Phoenix beat Washington.

After the game was tied 50-50 at halftime, the Suns heated up quickly in the third quarter, exploding for a 77-64 lead following back-to-back three-pointers by Dragic.

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76ers 96, Magic 88

Guard Michael Carter Williams scored 21 points and Philadelphia won just its third game of the season by pounding hapless Orlando at the Amway Center.

Center Nerlens Noel had 13 points and 12 rebounds for Philadelphia. Reserve center Henry Sims had 12 points and 12 rebounds, and forward Robert Covington had 11 points and 10 rebounds.

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Wade, Bosh star in Miami's win over Toronto

Heat 107, Raptors 102

Inspired by double-doubles from Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the Miami Heat won their 16th consecutive game against the Toronto Raptors, prevailing 107-102 at AmericanAirlines Arena on Sunday.

The Raptors have not beaten the Heat for more than four years and last won in Miami on Nov. 19, 2008.

Miami (3-0) are the only remaining unbeaten team in the Eastern Conference and were led in all-around play by Wade, who had 19 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.

He also twice blocked shots from Toronto's 7ft center Jonas Valanciunas. Bosh recorded 21 points and 11 rebounds.

Toronto's DeMar DeRozan scored a game-high 30 points and backcourt mate Kyle Lowry added 22.

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Kings 98, Clippers 92

DeMarcus Cousins scored 34 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, leading Sacramento to a six-point victory over Los Angeles.

Rudy Gay added 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists for Sacramento, who snapped a five-game losing streak against the Clippers. Cousins' bucket inside gave the Kings an 87-84 lead with 4:43 remaining and they never trailed again.

Blake Griffin and Spencer Hawes led Los Angeles with 17 points apiece. Chris Paul had 16 points and 11 assists.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pierce powers Nets to another win over struggling Heat

MIAMI - Paul Pierce tallied 17 of his 29 points in the third quarter as the Brooklyn Nets continued their mastery over reigning NBA champ Miami Heat with a nail-biting 96-95 win Wednesday.

The 36-year-old Pierce paced the offence for the Nets who have beat the Heat in all three meetings this season and snapped an eight-game losing steak at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Miami had the ball after a timeout with 3.5 seconds left, but Shaun Livingston knocked away a pass that was intended for LeBron James in front of the basket to ice the victory in front of a crowd of 19,616.

Pierce said two-time defending National Basketball Association champion Heat have lost their "fear factor."

"On that last play, we got the steal and let the clock run out," Pierce said. "We know when we play good team defence that we can beat them now.

"They used to have that fear factor. When we are on our game we can come in here and get a win."

Pierce spent his first 15 NBA seasons with the Boston Celtics who drafted him 10th overall in the 1998 entry draft.

Pierce came to the Nets this season as part of a blockbustre trade between Boston and Brooklyn that also saw the Nets get Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry.

Both previous wins over the Heat this season were in New York. Brooklyn edged the Heat 101-100 on November 1 as part of their 5-14 start and then won 104-95 in double overtime on January 10.

Despite a slow start to the season, the Nets are hoping that this nine-game home win streak will give them confidence down the stretch and into the postseason. They were expected to challenge for the top spot in the East but the struggles and injuries had slowed their progress.

"These are the big games. We are glad we came away with win," Pierce said.

The Nets played without Garnett who missed his seventh straight game on Wednesday. Andrei Kirilenko also didn't play because of a sprained ankle.

Chris Bosh tallied 24 points while Dwyane Wade scored 22 for the Heat who have lost four of their last five games.

James finished with just 19 points on six-of-13 shooting from the field for the Heat, who had their six-game home winning streak halted.

"That's obviously a tough one to lose here at home," said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra. "The turnovers going down the stretch in the fourth quarter hamstrung us."

Miami clinched a playoff berth with a 99-90 win over the Washington Wizards in their last outing.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com