Blazers Withstand Heat Blast Beat Miami 98-91

The Portland Trail Blazers withstood?a strong third quarter challenge by the Miami Heat Friday night and won the contest 98-91. Miami lost despite getting 37 points from Dwyane Wade, and a double-double 20 points, 11 rebounds, from center Shaquille O’Neal. Wade was the catalyst of the rally in the third quarter scoring 17 straight points, and 20 for the quarter a team record. But D-Wade only scored 2 points in the final?quarter as B-Roy took over for the Blazers.?The Heat have now lost their last 12 games, this from a team that won the NBA Championship the season before last.

Portland took of out the gates as they grabbed a 22-16 lead at the end of the first quarter, and led 50-41 as the teams went to their respective locker rooms at the?half. D-Wade then put on a magnificent performance in the third quarter, as Miami?jumped on top 76-69 as the two teams entered the final quarter. Miami though did not have enough left to finish the game off, as Wade pulled up cold and Brandon Roy got into the?zone. Portland?had a run when they scored 14 unanswered points, and they took back the lead 88-78. Miami could not regroup, leading to their twelfth straight defeat.

Roy led Portland with 24 points, as he shot 8-13 from the floor including one trey, 7-7 from the line, with 5 assists, 4 rebounds. Travis Outlaw came up big off the bench, 18 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, LaMarcus Aldridge scored 14 points, 7 boards, 2 blocks. James Jones came off the bench scoring 11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, Jarrett?Jack also was a big contributor coming off the pine, 10 points, 5 rebounds,?3 assists.?

Wade shot 14-29 from the floor, 2-2 from outside the arc, 7-7 from the line, for his game high 37 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block. O’Neal along with his 20 points, 11 boards, had 2 blocks, 1 assist, Ricky Davis scored 14 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal. Portland is now 24-15, while Miami is now 8-31.