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Wade leads comeback as Heat stun Nets

Nov 11, 2008 - 4:47 AM By Christopher Stock PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MIAMI (Ticker) -- Dwyane Wade scored 33 points and led a fourth-quarter comeback as the Miami Heat overcame a long-standing deficit in a 99-94 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Monday.

Wade had 19 points in the fourth and the Heat erased a nine-point deficit at the start of the quarter en route to earning their third win in the last four. Michael Beasley added 19 points and six rebounds, while Daequan Cook chipped in 15 points off the bench.

"(Wade) started to play at another level of calm, confidence, and aggressiveness," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Other guys made some big plays too. I thought Daequan's defense and energy on Vince (Carter) was solid."

Yi Jianlian scored 24 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and converted five 3-pointers for New Jersey, which dropped its second straight game without injured point guard Devin Harris. Carter had 22 points and four rebounds.

"I think we let the game slip away," Carter said. "Kudos to D-Wade. He played an excellent game. He hit some tough shots."

Wade made just 1-of-6 shots in the first half with six points, but turned it on in the second half by scoring 14 points in the final five minutes.

"I went over to my mom at halftime and said, 'Mom, I need some energy, I need something,'" Wade said. "She gave me some energy and it was just great. To have a game like this is always lovely so we are going to enjoy it."

Both teams kept it close throughout the first half and it was tied 40-40 at the break. However, the Nets took control of the game in the third as they went on a 16-5 run sparked by Jianlian, who knocked down three 3-pointers during the run to give them a 64-52 lead.

The Heat pulled within 78-73 after a long jumper by Beasley, but Carter answered with a layup and a 3-pointer to stretch the lead to 83-73 with 5:48 left.

"I'm thinking every time we keep chipping away at it, they make a play," Wade said. "Once you look at the clock and still see over five minutes left, you still have hope and you know it only takes a couple plays to go your way."

Then Wade went to work. Not known for his 3-point prowess, Wade banked home a shot from beyond the arc, drilled two free throws, and swished another 3-pointer on the wing to pull the Heat within 85-84 with 3:08 remaining. An 18-foot bank shot and two more free throws by Wade and the Heat led 90-88 with 1:07 left.

"I've been hearing (my teammates) mouth all day about my 3-pointers, but like I told them, I didn't need to use them yet, but I needed to use them tonight so I did," Wade said.

"He got his 3-point license back," Beasley said.

Carter brought the Nets within 91-90 with 32.5 seconds left with a layup, but could not stop Wade from knocking down another jumper to give the Heat a 93-90 edge with 23 seconds left.

Jianlian responded with a dunk on the ensuing possession. Chris Quinn knocked down two free throws for the Heat as Carter was called for traveling with six seconds left, ending the Nets' hopes. Quinn knocked down four more free throws to close out the game.

"In those situations, I am a guy that looks forward to stepping up and knocking them down," Quinn said.

The Nets have clearly struggled without Harris, who sprained his left ankle in Friday's game as he scored a career-high 38 points. The Heat were without forward Shawn Marion, who is nursing a right groin injury suffered on Saturday.