MIAMI (Ticker) - Dwyane Wade brought the six-game winning streak
of the Philadelphia 76ers to an abrupt end.
Wade had a phenomenal all-around game with 32 points, 10 assists
and nine rebounds as the shorthanded Miami Heat handled the
76ers, 106-96, for their fourth straight win.
Antoine Walker scored a season-high 26 points on 10-of-12
shooting for the Heat (6-3), who used just seven players but
improved to 5-2 without injured superstar center Shaquille
O'Neal. In his absence, Wade has taken over the offense.
"I wanted to be aggressive tonight," Wade said. "I was either
going to shoot it or pass it. I was being aggressive and making
it up as we went."
"He (Wade) is incredible," Heat coach Stan Van Gundy said. "I
always expect him to be great, and when he is not I am
surprised."
On Friday, the third-year guard had his way with 76ers guard
Andre Iguodala, who had slowed down Los Angeles Lakers superstar
Kobe Bryant a week ago and is developing a reputation as a
stopper.
"He (Wade) is a difficult player to guard," Iguodala said.
"Whenever you have a good offensive player it is not a 1-on-1
thing."
In addition to Iguodala, the Sixers also tried zone and trapping
defenses but had no success against the 6-4 Wade, who made
12-of-27 shots - including seven dunks - and controlled the
entire game.
"I see glimpses of MJ (Michael Jordan) in him," said Heat center
Alonzo Mourning, who scored 13 points. "He's still young. The
sky's the limit for him as long as he continues to work. ...
I've got the best seat in the house to watch him."
When Wade wasn't driving for dunks, he was drawing defenders and
setting up teammates for 3-pointers. James Posey made his
first four shots from the arc and Walker made his first three.
"I started to get in a good groove," said Walker, who hit his
first nine shots. "This was a huge win for us with so many guys
out."
"I was just trying to take good shots, shoot the ball with
confidence and I had good looks early," Posey said. "It makes it
easy for us by him (Dwyane) can penetrate and get to the basket
and then kick it out (to us) for an open shot. ... He is
creating for himself and the rest of the team. I just try and
take advantage of it and am ready if he passes me the ball. He
is the human highlight reel."
Overall, Miami shot 50 percent (39-of-78) from the field,
including 9-of-20 from the arc. The Heat sank 7-of-9 3-pointers
in the first half, when they took the lead for good.
Quick-starting Philadelphia raced to a seven-point lead early in
the second quarter before falling victim to Miami's 3-point
shooting. The Heat closed the first half with a 20-7 surge that
included two 3-pointers by Walker and one by Posey and turned a
six-point deficit into a 59-52 lead.
Wade was unstoppable in the third quarter, scoring 13 points.
On a 1-on-2 fast break, he got turned around but still flipped a
shot over his head and right in, bringing a roar from the
crowd.
On the next possession, Wade got loose again but was clobbered
by Michael Bradley, who drew a flagrant foul. Wade made both
free throws, then punctuated the possession with his seventh
dunk for a 76-61 lead with just over four minutes left in the
period.
"His penetration was big," 76ers coach Maurice Cheeks said. "His
ability to get to the rim broke down our defense. If he wasn't
scoring, he was dropping it off to somebody or putting us in
foul trouble. It's not necessarily his quickness; it's his
ability to break down a screen-and-roll and get into the lane to
force a shot or get it to someone else."
Wade was quiet in the fourth quarter until the Sixers closed to
98-90 on a 3-pointer by Kyle Korver with 2:16 remaining. He
responded with a foul-line jumper, then set up Gary Payton for a
layup and a 102-90 advantage.
"To myself, I have not played a game (this year) up to my
standards," Wade said. "We were at home playing a team that had
won six games in a row. I have not been dunking the ball as
much. ... I think I played well tonight from start to finish. I
didn't turn the ball over that much. It was my most complete
game start to finish."
Posey added 12 points for the Heat, who were without injured
point guard Jason Williams, as well as O'Neal, who is expected
to miss another two weeks. Van Gundy only played seven players.
Nevertheless, Miami beat Philadelphia here for the fourth
straight time.
Allen Iverson scored 33 points and Chris Webber added 21 and 10
rebounds for the Sixers (6-4), who had not lost in two weeks.
They shot 44 percent (34-of-78) and were beaten on the boards,
46-35.
Wade said that playing his friend and fellow All-Star Iverson
had him up for the game.
"When he comes to town, he elevates my game ... he brings the
best out in me," Wade said.

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