Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com Wade on fire as Heat burn 76ers

GSW in control

LOS ANGELES, April 17, (Agencies): Dwayne Wade rolled back the years with a vintage performance as the Miami Heat ended Philadelphia’s 17-game winning streak to level their Eastern Conference playoff series on Monday.

The 36-year-old Wade scored 28 points in 25 minutes from the bench as Miami stunned the 76ers’ home crowd into silence with a 113-103 victory.

It was a superb performance from Wade, a threetime NBA champion who started this season with the Cleveland Cavaliers before re-joining Miami in February just before the trade deadline. Wade’s experience proved crucial throughout, inspiring a first-half fightback to wipe out the 76ers’ early lead before shepherding Miami to the win in a nervy finale.

Wade, who also had seven rebounds and three assists, was backed by 20 points from Goran Dragic and 18 points from James Johnson.

Philadelphia meanwhile were left reflecting on their first loss since early March, jolting their momentum as the series heads to Miami for game three on Thursday.

Ben Simmons led the Philadelphia scoring with 24 points, with Dario Saric adding 23 and Marco Belinelli 16.

The Sixers had started confidently, building a seven-point cushion to lead 29-22 at the end of the first quarter.

But the hosts were then obliterated in the second period as the Heat went on a scoring spree, with Wade amassing 21 first half points.

With the Sixers struggling from three-point range, the Heat found their touch, outscoring Philly by 34-13 in the second quarter to take a 56-42 lead into the half-time break.

Miami defended the lead through the second half, and had moved out to 81-65 clear near the end of the third period.

Philadelphia rallied relentlessly and it looked ominous for Miami as the Sixers closed the gap to two points at 98-96.

Wade however had other ideas, grabbing a two-pointer before finding Johnson with a superb pass to make it 102-96.

Dragic then grabbed another twopointer and suddenly the Heat were eight clear again at 104-96, leaving the Sixers with too much to do to overturn the deficit.

Stephen Curry watched another lopsided win from the bench in sheer delight, wearing a sport coat and big smile.

The steady hands of Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson certainly have made the two-time MVP’s absence far

Durant JaVale McGee #1 of the Golden State Warriors and LaMarcus Aldridge #12 and Manu Ginobili #20 of the San Antonio Spurs go for a rebound during Game 2 of Round 1 of the 2018 NBA Playoffs

at ORACLE Arena on April 16 in Oakland, California. (AFP)

less daunting for the defending champions so far in these playoffs.

Durant sparked a decisive thirdquarter run on the way to 32 points, Thompson added 31 points and five assists in another superb playoff performance and the Golden State Warriors rallied in the second half to beat the San Antonio Spurs 116-101 for a 2-0 lead in their first-round series.

As Curry remains out likely for the entire series nursing a sprained left knee, the Warriors used all the offensive power they had to take both home games in the best-of-seven series.

“No one can make up Steph’s contributions individually,” Thompson said. “That’s got to be done as a team and even then it’s hard with the way he can shoot the ball.”

Thompson has found his touch after missing two weeks in March with a broken right thumb.

He followed up his brilliant 11-for13 shooting day in a 113-92 Game 1 rout Saturday by hitting 12 of 20 shots. Durant also had six rebounds and six assists for the Warriors, who went without key backup big man David

Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers goes up for a shot against Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat in the first quarter during Game Two of the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoff at Wells Fargo Center on April 16 in Philadelphia,

Pennsylvania. (AFP)

West down the stretch after he sprained his left ankle early in the fourth.