Wade scores 38 to lift Heat over 76ers
March 15, 2010
MIAMI (AP)—Dwyane Wade(notes) scored 38 points and his supporting cast came throughduring a decisive stretch in the fourth quarter Sunday, helping the Miami Heatbeat the Philadelphia 76ers 104-91.
With Wade resting on the bench and center Jermaine O’Neal(notes) out after beingejected, the Heat went on a 14-3 run to start the final period. James Jones(notes) sanka pair of 3-pointers during the spurt, and Jamaal Magloire’s(notes) running dunkpunctuated it to give Miami a 16-point lead.
The Heat won their third consecutive game to start a six-game homestand.They’ve won six in a row at home, their longest such streak in three seasons.
The 76ers lost their fourth consecutive game, and they’re 0-2 against Miamithis season.
O’Neal was ejected midway through the third quarter after grabbing SamuelDalembert’s(notes) face during a confrontation. The Heat also played a second game in arow without second-leading scorer Michael Beasley(notes), sidelined with a bruised leftthigh.
Miami led 73-57 when O’Neal departed, but the 76ers went on a 15-3 run inthe final 4:46 of the third quarter to cut the deficit to five points.
Wade took a seat and watched the next six minutes while the Heat rebuilttheir lead. He finished 14 for 25 with five rebounds.
Reserve Jason Kapono(notes) scored 17 for the 76ers, who kept things close onlybecause they shot 11 for 24 from 3-point range. Jones scored 14 and UdonisHaslem(notes) had 13 points and 12 rebounds off the Miami bench. Carlos Arroyo(notes) had aseason-high 10 assists, 12 points and no turnovers.
O’Neal departed after receiving two technical fouls for his confrontationwith Dalembert, who received one technical and remained in the game.
Moments before their altercation, Dalembert accidentally poked O’Neal in theeye under the basket. Following a timeout, the two were running upcourt whentheir arms tangled. A foul was called on another player, and O’Neal brieflygrabbed Dalembert’s face with one hand before being pulled away.
NOTES: Philadelphia F-C Marreese Speights(notes) missed his fourth consecutive gamewith a right knee sprain. … Miami improved to 31-6 when ahead at halftime. …The 76ers came into the game ranked fourth in the NBA in steals.