• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Wade helps Heat end five-game slide

Dec 10, 2007 - 12:25 AM By Jonathan Raber PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) - A trip to "Tinseltown" was just what the struggling Miami Heat needed.

Dwyane Wade had 35 points and 10 assists as the Heat stopped their second five-game losing streak this season with Sunday's 100-94 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Despite the win, the Heat (5-15) are off to their second-worst start in franchise history through the first 20 contests since opening the 1988-89 campaign at 1-19.

Miami began this season 0-5 before squeezing by the New York Knicks, 75-72, at Madison Square Garden on November 11.

Udonis Haslem collected 17 points and nine rebounds and Ricky Davis also netted 17 for the Heat, who helped coach Pat Riley record his 1,200th career win.

It took Riley 1,842 games to get to the mark, besting Golden State coach Don Nelson who needed 2,090 games. Riley ranks third all-time, trailing only Lenny Wilkens and Nelson.

Tim Thomas drained consecutive 3-pointers to tie the game at 90-90 with 3:29 remaining, capping an impressive 10-0 surge in the fourth quarter.

After trading baskets, Wade hit a jumper that rolled around the rim before dropping, and Haslem added two free throws to make it 96-92 with 57 seconds left.

"We got stops. Toward the end of the game, we executed offensively," Wade said. "The last three games, we really had an opportunity to win, we just didn't get no stops and, offensively, we kind of died down."

The Clippers had a chance to cut their deficit to two, but Cuttino Mobley and Chris Kaman both misfired near the rim. Wade split a pair from the line to secure Miami's first win on its six-game West Coast trip.

"It was good to come out here and to know that we have been fighting hard and staying together as a team," Wade said. "Our coaches have been great going through this losing streak. It's great to get this win and, hopefully, we can continue and move forward."

Corey Maggette had 24 points and 12 boards and Kaman picked up his 15th double-double with 14 and 12 for Los Angeles, which shot 46 percent (37-of-80) from the field.

"It's a disappointing loss," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. "We played really well in stretches, played with a lot of energy, but the two things that were most costly to us were our turnovers and our slow start in the second half."

Miami used an aggressive 14-0 run coming out of the break to build up a sizable 65-51 advantage with 7:17 remaining in the third.

"We jumped on them in the third quarter defensively, which was the key to the game," Riley said. "They had their inevitable comeback and then we picked up our defense again. We just would not - and did not - defend in close games which is why we are where we're at."