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Millsap's career-best 46 carries Utah past Heat in OT

Nov 10, 2010 - 4:41 AM Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Paul Millsap finished with a career-high 46 points and Francisco Elson hit two free-throws with 0.4 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Utah Jazz a 116-114 victory over the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena.

Deron Williams supplied 21 points and 14 assists and Andrei Kirilenko added 16 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Jazz, who had lost their previous seven meetings in Miami.

Dwyane Wade scored 39 points and LeBron James finished with 20 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds to post his first triple-double for the Heat, who allowed more than 100 points for the first time this season.

The Heat led by as many as 22 but the Jazz outscored them 42-29 in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime.

"It's a very disappointing loss," said Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra. "It's a lesson we'll learn from this game. The Utah Jazz kept on grinding after we took a 20 point lead in the first quarter. When they started the third quarter it was a lay-up drill, and I couldn't even recognize our defense."

Kyrylo Fesenko hit a layup to open the extra period but Wade responded with a 7-1 run of his own, including a towering dunk, to give Miami a 111-107 lead with 2:42 remaining.

Millsap hit two from the line and Kirilenko hit a three-pointer to give the Jazz the 112-111 lead. Wade missed a jumper with 25.6 left and after a scrum for the ball during the rebound, possession went to the Jazz. Kirilenko was fouled by James Jones and hit two more free throws for a 114-111 Utah edge.

Wade responded with another big shot, hitting a triple in front of the Heat bench, that tied the game with 17.5 seconds remaining.

After getting the ball to the front court, Wade fouled the newly-inserted Elson and sent him to the line with 0.4 ticks remaining. Utah's offseason acquisition hit the first free throw, and his second attempt -- which he tried to purposely miss in order to run out the clock -- ended up going in, thus giving Miami one last chance.

The Heat called a timeout, which allowed them to advance the ball to mid-court and Eddie House missed a three-pointer as time expired.

The Heat led by as many as 16 in the opening period and held a 25-13 advantage after 12 minutes of play.

After a back-and-forth second quarter, Miami was leading 42-29 with two minutes remaining. A Wade running dunk pushed the lead to 15 and the Heat ended the half on a 9-3 run heading to the locker room with a 51-32 cushion.

After James' two free throws in the opening seconds of the third quarter, Utah went on an 11-2 run that cut their deficit to 55-43. Millsap added 18 points on 8-of-11 in the third quarter and Miami had a 75-62 lead heading to the final stanza.

Williams' driving layup to start the fourth began a 12-2 run for Utah, which cut Miami's lead to three. A Miles layup and a pair of Chris Bosh free throws held the Heat advantage until Utah's Ronnie Price hit a three-pointer at 6:59 to tie the game at 79.

The Jazz regained the lead with a Williams jumper at 6:20 but Wade responded with a three-pointer to make the score 82-81 midway through the fourth.

The Wade trey started a quick 10-2 run for the Heat that gave them a six-point lead. From there, Utah was in foul mode, but after each attempt the resilient visitors started shooting from beyond the arc. Utah hit five three-pointers, including three from Millsap to cut the Heat lead to one, 103-102, with 4.3 ticks remaining.

Wade hit on one-of-two from the line to put Miami up 104-102 and Utah called a timeout to advanced the ball to midcourt. After C.J. Miles missed a jumper Millsap got the put-back to go down, sending the games into overtime.

"It shows you what (Millsap) is about," Utah head coach Jerry Sloan said. "When it gets tough, he doesn't stop working. That's what he has been doing since he's been with us, and works at his game to make himself better. He works on every little aspect of the game all the time, and that gives you a chance to get better. He is a no nonsense guy when he plays."

Game Notes

Bosh finished with 17 points and nine rebounds...Miami was 11-2 in the last 13 meetings entering Tuesday...Williams fouled out with 4.3 seconds left in the fourth...Wade played in his 479th career game in a Heat uniform, which puts him fourth in franchise history...The Heat have never opened a season winning four straight at home...James recorded his 29th career triple-double, second against Utah. It was also the ninth triple-double in Heat history...Wade has finished with 20 or more points in four straight games.