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Wade hits game-winner as Heat top Bobcats

Dec 29, 2011 - 6:46 AM Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - Dwyane Wade's short jumper with 2.9 seconds left lifted the Miami Heat to a 96-95 come-from-behind victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday.

Gerald Henderson nailed a three-pointer with 12 seconds left to put Charlotte on top. But Wade, who struggled shooting all night, took the ball at the top of the key out of a timeout, drove to the basket and was able to get the running jumper to fall to give Miami its third straight victory.

LeBron James led all scorers with 35 and also had seven assists. Chris Bosh finished with 25 points, while Wade scored 10 on 5-of-13 shooting.

Henderson dropped 21 and D.J. Augustin had 20 points and six assists for the Bobcats. Boris Diaw finished with 16 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists and rookie Kemba Walker had 14 points.

"We just have to learn from this loss," Walker said. "We didn't take care of the basketball like we should have."

Miami was able to shut down the Bobcats in the third, holding them to just 10 points to pull within one entering the final quarter.

The Heat took the lead for the first time all night in the fourth when Wade found Bosh on the break and he slammed the ball home, putting Miami up 80-79.

With the Bobcats down 82-80, a missed dunk from James led to a fast break where Diaw found a streaking Corey Maggette, who made an acrobatic reverse layup to tie the game.

It looked as if James' dunk did go through the hoop and was knocked back through the rim after hitting Henderson in the head but play carried on.

Following the Maggette layup, James came down the court, shook a defender with a crossover before laying the ball up. Augustin answered with a step-back jumper to tie the game at 84-84.

With just under three minutes remaining, Bosh swatted away a Maggette layup, which was corralled by James in the corner, and as he was falling out of bounds, he found a streaking Wade down the middle of the court in what was surely one of the best plays of the young season.

Charlotte jumped out to an early lead after it opened the contest with an 11-0 run. James and the Heat were able to make it a 19-12 game with just under five minutes left in the quarter. But the Bobcats were able to stretch their lead to 32-20 before the quarter ended.

The Heat couldn't find their rhythm in the second stanza and went into the break down 15. The Heat were able to get within seven but Charlotte put its foot on the pedal once again and stretched it 60-45 after Augustin nailed a three at the buzzer.

"First half wasn't Miami Heat basketball," James said. "We gave up 60 points. ... In order for us to be successful we have to defend."

Game Notes

Miami has won six straight over the Bobcats...The Heat's Mario Chalmers scored 15...Charlotte rookie Bismack Biyombo recorded his first NBA basket.