WINSLOW LEADS HEAT TO VICTORY
Justise Winslow rode a fast start to a 26-point day, leading the Miami Heat to a 112-108 win over the visiting Memphis Grizzlies.
Dwyane Wade wagged his finger and then stepped to the freethrow line for one last jump ball against Shelvin Mack.
It probably wasn’t the sort of game-winning play Heat coach Erik Spoelstra expected from his future Hall of Famer, Wade does have quite a history of defending around the rim. With four seconds left, Temple became his latest victim, as Wade snuffed out a baseline drive, forced a tie-up, then won a jump ball to seal the Miami Heat’s 112-108 win against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Wade was one of seven Heat players to finish in double figures with 10 points. His most important play, however, was his one block after Spoelstra trusted him to close out the game.
Miami’s lead had vanished with less than a minute left. Once leading by 13, the Heat (21-20) needed to outlast the Grizzlies (19-23) in the final minute pull out the win in front of 19,600. With 55.9 seconds left, Spoelstra called on his most experienced closer. It didn’t matter that Justise Winslow had a game-high 26 points and it didn’t matter that Wade is 37. The coach wanted Wade to take the final shot.
The guard pulled up from the top of the key and left his jumper short, but Josh Richardson was in the right place to grab the rebound. Memphis fouled the combo guard, who hit one free throw, then Wade denied Mack his chance to tie the score.
The opportunity was only there because of Winslow’s fantastic start. The point forward scored 18 of his 26 points in the first half, although he failed to score in the fourth quarter. Richardson finished with 13 points and a careerhigh nine assists, and guard Tyler Johnson added another 14.