Move Over Red Rover As D-Wade Takes Over; Heat Scorch Sixers 97-91

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Game Recap

Dwyane Wade 2.21a

With apologies to the late great inimitable Jimi Hendrix; watch out now, Miami’s coming to get ya! Dwyane Wade with the help of the two newest members of the Miami Heat Jermaine O’Neal, and Jamario Moon, are starting to look like a team on a mission! The trio with the help of Udonis Haslem Saturday night came back in force late in the final minutes of the game to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 97-91. Miami overcame a late deficit, as well as a huge night from one of the Association’s most underrated players Sixers veteran point guard Andre Miller who scored a game high 30 points. D-Wade led the Heat with 25 points, while O’Neal and Haslem each recorded a double-double.

This was a pretty tightly played contest throughout the evening, as both team struggled in the first quarter offensively, but the Sixers would trail at the end of the period 20-16. Philadelphia however would find their stroke on a somewhat more consistent basis in the second quarter and the game was knotted up at 40-40 as the game reached the half.

The two opponents stayed close in the third quarter, but Chris Quinn drove the lane and laid the ball up and in the cylinder to give Miami the lead 67-63 as the period drew to completion. With 2:01 left in the contest Wade would step to the line and knock down two critical free throws putting the Heat ahead 88-87. They would never surrender the lead the rest of the night.

Dwyane Wade had 25 points, 9 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 steals, while Jermaine O’Neal recorded a double-double, 17 points, 10 boards, 1 assist, and 1 block. Udonis Haslem also had a double-double, 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 1 assist, Jamario Moon added 12 points coming off the bench, 2 blocks, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist,

Andre Miller dropped a game high 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists, Louis Williams came off the bench with 22 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist. Andre Iguodala scored 14 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals,while rookie Mareese Speights came in off of the pine and contributed 12 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. Thaddeus Young added 10 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block, and 1 assist. Miami now improves to 29-25, the Sixers are 27-27.

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