Mavs can’t take Heat when Wade is on fire
DALLAS – The situation couldn’t have been more tense. Down by one, tie game, 1.9 seconds left in overtime, Game 5 of the NBA finals, series tied at two.
Somehow, even with the outcome in his hands, Dwyane Wade stayed calm.
“That’s why we play the game,” he said afterward. “For these moments.”
Wade has had no shortage of moments in these playoffs.
His two free throws with that sliver of time remaining capped a 43-point effort, gave the Miami Heat a 101-100 win over the Dallas Mavericks, and moved his team within one game of winning the NBA championship.
With that, another chapter was added to the rapidly burgeoning legacy of the Heat’s superstar guard.
“That’s D. Wade. We’ve seen it all season long,” Heat forward James Posey said. “He’s been able to come through. Put the ball in his hands and you’ve got to like our chances.”
Simple enough. And the plan has Miami closer than ever to a title, with Wade leading at every turn.
Start with Game 5 of the Eastern Conference opening round against Chicago. Series tied at 2-2, Wade gets hurt, the Heat fall behind midway through the third quarter and the Bulls seem poised to land a knockout blow. But Wade returns, sore hip and all, leads the comeback and Miami advances in six games.
Against New Jersey in the next round, Wade ended the Nets’ season with a steal off an inbound pass with 1.4 seconds remaining in Game 5. Against Detroit in the East finals rematch, he wasn’t slowed by constantly being the center of the Pistons’ defensive attention, shoots 62 percent and the Heat win in six games.
“The best,” Heat center Shaquille O’Neal said. “He’s the best right now.”
He’s looked the part in the NBA finals – or at least, the last three games.
Dallas rolled to victories in the first two games at home, so convincingly that city officials began openly planning parade routes to celebrate an all-but-certain NBA title. The Mavs came to Miami and led Game 3 by 13 points with 6:34 left – before Wade stole every bit of momentum away.
He led the comeback that night, finishing with 42 points as the Heat got back in the series. He had 36 more points in a Game 4 romp. And then came the 43-point burst in Game 5, on a night where Wade didn’t shoot well from the field but was 21 of 25 at the line.
“An amazing performance,” Heat backup center Alonzo Mourning said. “He’s capable of totally taking over the game with his overall abilities. When you have a talent like that on the court, you’ve got to use it. We kept going to him and he kept making plays.”