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Wade leads as Heat top Nash-less Suns

Nov 29, 2008 - 5:04 AM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- It was Shawn Marion's homecoming, but it was Dwyane Wade's show.

Wade bounced back from his worst performance of the season with one of his best, collecting a season-high 43 points to lead the Miami Heat to a 107-92 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Friday.

The Suns were playing without two-time MVP point guard Steve Nash, who sat out with a right thigh contusion.

"It made a big difference that their motor (Nash) wasn't out there," Heat coach Eric Spoelstra said. "Our disposition was much better. We had a real spirited practice yesterday and one of the things with this group they usually respond after day of work and brought that energy tonight.

"Let's be real about it; Dwyane was magnificent tonight and they were without their MVP. That's the NBA, but you have to take advantage of that."

Without Nash to worry about on the defensive end, Wade had no trouble focusing on his offensive game. After scoring a season-low 12 points during an embarrassing, 106-68, loss at Portland on Wednesday, Wade hit 15-of-24 from the floor.

"I am on a mission to bounce back from my other game," Wade said. "I haven't been shooting the ball very well the last couple of games so I didn't want to go too many games throwing up bricks. I wanted to focus on my shot tonight. The way they were playing the pick and roll and when (Shaquille O'Neal) was playing he was kind of falling back a little and my (shot) was there. I just focused on that."

The game marked the return of Marion, who played the first 8 1/2 years of his career with Phoenix before being traded to the Heat last season.

"It is mixed," Marion said of his feelings. "I gave my heart and soul to this city and that team over there. I think they knew that and they felt that and gave me a standing ovation. I love Phoenix, I had a great time here, but I am a Miami Heat player now and it felt good to get this win here."

Marion, who was the No. 9 overall pick of the Suns in 1999 but no longer fit into the team's plans offensively or financially due to his status below Nash and Amare Stoudemire on the franchise pecking order, finished with 10 points and eight rebounds in 37 minutes.

The other main piece of that trade, O'Neal finished with 12 points and nine rebounds for Phoenix, which had its three-game winning streak snapped.

"We never really got into a flow," O'Neal said. "They got into a groove and we are still having that turnover problem. Once we get rid of that and learn how to stop some people and do that on a consistent basis, then we will be on our way. We have been very careless with the ball."

Wade had 11 points in the first quarter as Miami jumped out to a 32-19 lead after one and never looked back. He added another 11 in the second and scored the first seven points of the third.

"Even without Steve Nash, they are still a good team," Wade said. "So you want to get out to a good start to give yourself confidence, especially after losing by 38 points. Our whole pregame thing was to come out hard in the first quarter then come out hard in the third quarter. Make them call the first timeout."

Udonis Haslem chipped in 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Heat, who forced 19 turnovers and shot 18-of-22 from the free-throw line.

Leandro Barbosa led Phoenix with 20 points off the bench.

"The dreaded turnovers came into play again as far as what we are trying to get done offensively and we made some poor decisions," Suns coach Terry Porter said. "It was a poor job from start to finish. Probably our worse game of the year at both ends of the floor."