January 26th, 2008 
Stephen Rhodes 
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Finally the Miami Heat got the proverbial “monkey off their back”; Dwyane Wade and Mark Blount’s 10 fourth-quarter points helped the Heat snap an NBA-high 15-game losing streak and record a narrow 98-96 win over the Indiana Pacers Saturday at American Airlines Arena.
Indiana was pitiful from the floor – missing 14 of their first 18 shots – but the Pacers’ Mike Dunleavy ensured that Miami didn’t open an early lead.? Dunleavy scored 16 of the Pacers’ first 19 points, and Indiana had a 3-point lead early.? The Heat trailed by as many as 11 in the second quarter after the Pacers’ Shawne Williams drained a 3-pointer with 9:16 left in the half, and would trail 57-48 at halftime.
But Miami’s Wade scored the final 9 points in an 11-0 Heat run that put them up 73-71 later in the third period; both teams went into the fourth quarter tied at 77.? Miami’s Blount scored the first 2 baskets of the quarter, and Dorell Wright added a jumper with 9:53 to go in the game to give the Heat a 6-point edge – a lead they wouldn’t surrender.? Miami’s high scorer was Wade, who had a very good game with 35 points on 12-of-20 shooting, with 8 rebounds and 4 assists.? Blount added 19, while Wright pitched in with 14 and 10 rebounds.
Indiana was led by Dunleavy with 25 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, while Danny Granger and Andre Owens added 13 each.? Miami (9-33) continues their homestand by hosting the Boston Celtics on Tuesday, while Indiana (19-26) returns to Conseco Fieldhouse to host the Detroit Pistons – also on Tuesday.
