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Brand ties season high with 33 points as Clippers edge Heat

Dec 6, 2006 - 6:36 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Elton Brand wasn't going to let the Miami Heat steal the game.

Brand tied a season high with 33 points and grabbed 17 rebounds and Cuttino Mobley added 21 points as the Los Angeles Clippers held for a 101-97 victory over the Heat.

On Saturday, Miami left Memphis with a 98-97 triumph when James Posey hit an unbelievable buzzer-beating 3-pointer while falling out of bounds as time expired.

However, Brand, who reached the 30-point plateau for the second straight game, had other plans.

"When we were 5-1 I didn't mind averaging two shots a game," Brand said. "I am about winning. But we had to change it up and it's my turn. When I'm hot like that I want the ball. I don't feel like I can miss. You just have to be confident and take the shot."

Brand followed up a 10-of-12 shooting performance against Orlando on Sunday with a 13-of-18 outing against Miami.

The Clippers entered the fourth quarter with a 72-65 lead. They maintained at least a four-point edge until the Heat closed within 92-89 on a pair of free throws by Dwyane Wade with 92 seconds left.

Since Wade was fouled by Tim Thomas after making a steal and had a clear path to the basket, Miami was awarded another possession. Wade lured Quinton Ross into a foul 11 ticks later and drained two more foul shots, drawing the Heat within one.

But Brand answered with a jumper from the wing, stretching the margin to 94-91 with 52 seconds remaining.

"Elton was incredible, so efficient as a player," Heat coach Pat Riley said. "He did us in."

"We let Brand do everything he wanted to do," Miami guard Gary Payton said. "He did anything he wanted to. that's not good defense. We have to have a team effort with him. We knew what he was going to do and he broke our back. He hurt us and that's just the way it goes."

After a missed layup by Wade on the ensuing possesion, Brand corralled the rebound and Los Angeles sank 7-of-8 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Wade netted 33 points and Alonzo Mourning added 16 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks for Miami, which fell to 1-1 on its four-game road trip.

"We were fighting from behind most of the second half," Riley said. "We came back a few times, had an opportunity, but were always one play behind. We just couldn't shoot the ball at all from outside tonight."

The Heat shot an abysmal 3-of-25 from the arc.