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Wade's heroics help Heat end skid

Dec 23, 2007 - 5:53 AM MIAMI (Ticker)-- Dwyane Wade scored 13 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and hit a jumper at the buzzer to lead the Miami Heat to a 104-102 victory over the Utah Jazz on Saturday.

Wade brought the ball up the court, stopped at the left elbow and pump faked before launching a shot that bounced off the front of the rim and in as time expired.

The shot was reviewed and stood, allowing the Heat to hold off a furious comeback attempt.

"When the shot hit the front of the rim and bounced up I knew it was going to drop," Wade said. "I breathed a big sigh of relief. It's a sign of life for us."

Wade shot 6-of-14 from the floor and dished out six assists - including a key one late - to help the Heat avoid blowing a 16-point second-half lead and snap a two-game skid.

For Miami coach Pat Riley it was a matter of survival.

"We didn't collapse all the way tonight," Riley said. "We let them back in it but not all the way so that's a positive. We got the big bounce when we needed it."

"We can't look at this as a turning point," Wade said. "We've done that in the past only to be disappointed," Wade said. "You have to try to build on it."

Utah used a 17-5 run in the final four minutes and took a 100-99 lead on a pair of free throws from Matt Harpring with 46 seconds left. But Wade found rookie Daequan Cook in the right corner for a 3-pointer which gave Miami a short-lived 102-100 lead with 28 seconds remaining.

"It's all about confidence and having a feel for when to take the shot," Cook said. "I just knew it was my time and I just had to hope it would fall."

Carlos Boozer then answered with a 16-foot fadeaway to tie the game with 21 seconds left, setting the stage for Wade's heroics. And the 2006 Finals MVP denied Utah its first win in Miami since March 10, 2003.

"It is hard to know what to do when you are playing against a great player like Dwyane Wade, who has that kind of ability," Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. "You have to try to make him shoot over the top of you."

Deron Williams scored 22 points and had seven assists for the Jazz, who shot 29-of-43 from the free-throw line and caused Shaquille O'Neal to foul out in five straight games for the first time in his career.

O'Neal scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season.

Meanwhile, Boozer had an off game, scoring just 10 points on just 4-of-16 from the floor.

Reserve C.J. Miles scored 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, but failed to help Utah complete the rally.

"I felt like any opportunity I had to step up, I should be aggressive and do it," Miles said. "Tonight I got some looks and was able to knock them down. Everyone was playing aggressive trying to win this game."