Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) dunks the ball past Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger, left, during the third quarter of their game, played Saturday. Wade scored 35 points, leading Miami to the win over Indiana 98-96. 

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.

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