CLUTCH SHOTS FROM THE OLD WADE
Wade scores 31 to help keep Sacramento Kings at 107 over Bulls’ 112. Kings guard Collison says Wade plays vintage game at his finest Meelee breaks out after third quarter as tempers flared
Dwyane Wade knows he’s lost some of his athleticism. But the Chicago Bulls’ veteran guard hasn’t lost the ability to make clutch shots.
Wade scored 31 points, including the final seven for Chicago to rescue the Bulls and help them hold off the Sacramento Kings, 112-107, on Monday night.
The 35-year-old Wade had 11 points in the fourth quarter and hit the biggest shot of the game, a tiebreaking 20-footer to put Chicago ahead for good at 109-107 with 13 seconds left.
“He’s a great player and hit a big one for us. He’s been doing that for a (long) while,” teammate Michael Carter-Williams said. “His instincts are still there. He comes up big down the stretch.”
After the Bulls squandered a 27-point lead in the second half, Wade’s late-game heroics included one more critical play. He stole the inbounds pass following a timeout and went the length of the court for a dunk to make it a four-point lead.
“Dwyane Wade played an unbelievable game. Take your hats (off ) to him. It was vintage Dwyane Wade,” Kings guard Darren Collison said.
Wade added a free throw with a second to play following the second technical foul of the night on a furious DeMarcus Cousins, who thought he was fouled on a three-point attempt. Cousins was ejected after picking up his 16th technical of the season, a total that triggers an automatic onegame suspension.
Just after the third quarter ended, a minor fracas broke out that involved Cousins, teammate Matt Barnes, Bulls assistant head coach Jim Boylen and Chicago forward Taj Gibson. Cousins shoved Boylen’s arm away as tempers flared, and all three players were given technicals.
It was a frustrating night for Cousins. He missed 11 of 16 shots and finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds. He left the locker room after the game, refusing to talk to the media.
Sacramento coach Dave Joerger wasn’t sure if the Kings will have Cousins against Boston on Wednesday.
“I don’t know, we’ll have to wait and see,” Joerger said.
He’s a great player and hit a big one for us. He’s been doing that for a (long) while... His instincts are still there. He comes up big down the stretch. BULLS TEAMMATE MICHAEL CARTERWILLIAMS