Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Wade beats buzzer with 3-pointer
The Miami Heat beat the Golden State Warriors by one point.
MIAMI — Dwyane Wade has his moment. In his house.
During his retirement season.
On a double-clutch 3-pointer at the buzzer no less than against the two-time defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors.
If there was to be a signature moment in this “One Last Dance” season for Wade, this was it, his final three points in his 25-point night producing a stunning 126-125 victory Wednesday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Unfathomable.
But true.
And truly remarkable.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra had a simple goal going into this one, “I’d like to find some consistency and finish a game at home.”
And finish they did.
The Heat certainly provided their coach with an ample cushion, pushing to a 24-point lead and sustaining double-digit
leads into the fourth quarter.
But in the end, there was Wade.
Sixteen seasons in.
And still magical. In the end it was enough to overcome 36 points from Klay Thompson, 28 from Kevin Durant and 25 from Stephen Curry.
The Heat got 27 points from Goran Dragic, 25 from Dwyane Wade and 21 from Josh Richardson.
After pushing to their 24-point second-quarter lead and standing ahead 74-58 at halftime, the Heat went into the fourth quarter up 100-92.
But with the flick of a pair of wrists, 3-pointers by Draymond Green and Curry got the Warriors within 106-103, with a Durant 3-pointer later drawing the Warriors within 109-107 and another Durant jumper tying it 109-109 with 5:09 left.
From there, the Heat went up 114-109 on a Bam Adebayo dunk and a Richardson 3-pointer.
But a Thompson fourpoint play, on a foul by Dion Waiters, followed, as did another Thompson 3-pointer that put Golden State up 116-114 with 3:16 left.
Richardson then tied it 116-116 before a Curry layup gave the Warriors a 118-116 lead with 2:26 remaining.
From there, Wade scored on a secondchance possession to tie it 118-118 with 1:58 left.
After empty possessions both ways, Durant then drained a 3-pointer with 67 left, fouled on the play by Adebayo. Durant made the free throw for a 122-118 Golden State lead.
Adebayo then got to the line with 56.1 seconds to play, making both to draw the Heat within 122-120.
Durant then lost the ball, with Kelly Olynyk off on a 3-pointer on the other end.
Jordan Bell then went to the line with 18.1 seconds to play, making both free throws for a 124-120 lead.
A Wade 3-pointer with 15 seconds left then drew the Heat within 124-123.
The Heat then fouled Durant with 13.9 seconds to play, and after he made only one of his two foul shots, it set up Wade’s latest Heat magic moment.
Three degrees of Heat from Wednesday’s game:
1. Dragic’s determination: Dragic again played off the bench, but this time offered a starter’s contribution, including opening 4 of 5 3-pointers, as well as drawing a three-shot foul on another attempt.
For as passive as the Heat were at the trading deadline other than with luxury-tax moves, Dragic stands to be the biggest plus for the final two months of the season.
His 20-point second quarter set a Heat record for a reserve in a quarter with his 25-point first half also a Heat record for a reserve. His second period was two points off the Heat scoring record for a second quarter.
Justise Winslow again opened at point guard.
Continuing to start at power forward, Olynyk has shown an ability to create meaningful minutes even against a quicker opponent, with Wednesday night the latest example in his matchup against Draymond Green, who fouled out with five points and three rebounds.
“He knows this league is getting quicker,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Most of his minutes this year have been at the four rather than the five compared to last year. And he’s adapted, and that’s what’s required.”
3. No Whiteside: The Heat were without starting center Hassan Whiteside due to a hip strain.
“Not exactly sure when it happened,” Spoelstra said of the moment of impact during Monday’s loss to the Phoenix Suns. “He did fall on it and then when we were trapping at the end, it might have aggravated it a little bit.”
That had Adebayo in the opening lineup at center, leaving the Heat with their 23rd starting lineup.
The Heat remained without forward James Johnson for a third consecutive game due to a shoulder injury, but got Winslow back after he missed two games with knee soreness.
Rodney McGruder, who missed Monday’s loss with a sore knee, also was back.