Heat trounce Mavericks
Heat remain undefeated on New Year’s Day
MIAMI — Two types of illness were on display Friday night at American-Airlines Arena during the Miami Heat’s 106-82 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
There were the dehydration that had Heat guard Dwyane Wade retreating to the locker room moments before tipoff, playing as a reserve for just the 10th time in his 13 seasons.
And there was the type of discomfort experienced in far greater measure throughout South Florida on New Year’s Day. Based on their play in this one, especially at the outset, spending New Year’s Eve in Miami might not have been the best approach by the Mavericks.
“I’m happy that we started the new year with a game that’s more toward our identity,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Wade started the new year a bit later than teammates, spending the first quarter in the locker room receiving intravenous fluids.
He went out with teammates for warm-ups, found himself winded and then shaky when he sat on the bench.
“I thought I was a little dehydrated,” he said. “The docs did a good job making sure that’s all it was.”
So as his teammates played on, Wade watched the first quarter in the locker room.
“I was seeing how they were guarding us,” he said.
Little was needed from Wade, with the Heat up 14 by the time he entered midway through the second quarter. He played 19 minutes and finished with 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting in his first game off the bench in three seasons. He nonetheless was proficient as a playmaker, closing with seven assists.
“He was really feeling nauseous and dizzy,” Spoelstra said.
No matter, because center Hassan Whiteside stood tallest, closing with 25 points and 19 rebounds.
“He gave us the whole arsenal tonight.” Wade said.
The 19 rebounds were the most by a Heat player this season. The 25 points tied his season high.
“You all saw more than you normally do,” Whiteside said. “Contrary to belief, I can score.
“Today was one of the days I got the ball a lot more, and I took advantage of that.”
He closed 12 of 16 from the field.
“He was just so aggressive,” Spoelstra said.
The absence of Wade in the early stages allowed point guard Goran Dragic to flourish at the outset. He closed with 15 points and seven assists in 30 minutes.
Dragic said Spoelstra told him just before tipoff of Wade, “We don’t know if he’s coming back. Just be aggressive.”
The spark off the bench was provided not by Wade, but rather reserve forward Gerald Green, who closed with 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting.
The Heat closed at .561 from the field, with the sickly Mavericks at .364. The Heat outrebounded the Mavericks 50-40.
With the victory, the Heat improved to 6-0 alltime on New Year’s Day, the lone active NBA franchise not to lose on the holiday. The victory snapped a twogame losing streak.
The Heat set the tone at the outset, closing the first period ahead 22-10, with Dallas just 5 of 23 from the field over the first 12 minutes. Whiteside was up to nine rebounds by that stage.
Even with the Mavericks scoring 35 points in the second quarter, the Heat were able to take a 58-45 lead into the intermission, with just three turnovers in the first half.
The Heat led 80-61 going into the fourth quarter, at .565 from the field and 7 of 14 on 3-pointers at that stage.
With the victory, the Heat moved to 9-1 against the Western Conference at home. The Mavericks were coming off Wednesday’s 114-91 victory over the Stephen Curry-less Golden State Warriors.
With Wade limited, the Heat got backcourt contributions from Tyler Johnson and Beno Udrih.
The Heat also continued with Amar’e Stoudemire in their power rotation, with Stoudemire appearing in his fourth consecutive game.
The Heat remained without reserve forward Justise Winslow, who missed a third consecutive game with a sprained left ankle.
In addition to Winslow, forward Josh McRoberts remained out with a bruised knee.