Dec

31

D-Wade Spoils LeBron’s Birthday As Heat Burn Cavaliers 104-95

Posted by Matt Loede under NBA Game Recap 

For the past two games the Cavaliers had been on the brink a loss. Tuesday night on LeBron James’ 24-birthday, the Miami Heat pushed the Cavs over that brink. Led by a solid night from Dwyane Wade with 21 points and 12 assists, the Heat topped the Cavs for just the sixth loss of the Cavaliers season in a 104-95 setback.

Mario Chalmers was another thorn in the Cavs side, as he hit 6 three-point shots, and ended the night with 21 points and eight assists. The Heat controlled the tempo from the opening tip to the end, as they built a seven-point lead at the end of one, a 16-point lead at the half, and then held off a gutsy Cavs comeback to improve to 17-13 on the season.

James did celebrate his birthday with a big night in the score book, as he led the team with 38 points and seven assists. He led a Cavs comeback that saw them draw to within one in the final quarter, but then the Heat had enough with Wade and Chalmers along with 14 from Shawn Marion to put the Cavs away.

It was the second of a back-to-back for these two teams, and while the Heat were not able to hang on to a lead Sunday night at the Q, at home was another story. They forced 13 Cavaliers turnovers, and out rebounded the Cavs 42-33. They also shot seven more free throws, going 25-for-32 from the charity stripe while the Cavs were 18-for-25.

The Heat played a zone defense over the last few minutes, stopping James and the Cavs, who had drawn to within one at 78-77 with 8:55 left. It was all Heat from there, as they wrapped up the game with a 16-3 run over the final four minutes to go on for the 9-point win. Delonte West scored 20 for the Cavs, which had won six straight, and Mo Williams added 10.

The Cavs will celebrate the New Year with two days off, then be back on the court Friday night for a match-up with the rival Chicago Bulls at Quicken Loans Arena.


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