Chris Bosh, LeBron James star as Miami Heat rally down the stretch to dump Phoenix Suns: NBA Recap
Chris Bosh pounded a game high 28 points, including 11 of the first 13 Miami Heat points, along with 8 rebounds as the South Florida giants evaporated a 10 point fourth quarter deficit to pin the Phoenix Sun 97-90 at the American
Airlines Arena, Miami.
After showing some good energy in the first 12 minutes, the Heat started to slow down in the second quarter and after trailing through most of the second half, a 17-0 late run was one which ultimately bailed them out.
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra was happy with the clutch performance of his team;
"To start the game, it was not our best. To finish the game, it was more our style. It was more aggressive in the second half, particularly in the fourth quarter."
LeBron James, who had 20 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks on the night, had few scary moments in the game.
He first had a right elbow injury in a collision with rookie Markieff Morris – the same one he hurt in 2010 while playing for Cleveland Cavaliers - and then had a blow on the head after bumping shoulders with his opposite number,
Grant Hill. He however sounded confident after the game;
"It's the same elbow I hurt in Cleveland so I was a little off, I would say, for the rest of the game," said James. "We'll see the next couple days. I'll come and get some treatment on it. Hopefully doesn't cause any problems."
Dwyane Wade had 19 points and 7 rebounds to the game while Udonis Haslem provided 15 points and 9 rebounds off the bench.
Hill was the top scorer with 19 points for the Suns, who also got 13 points and 8 rebounds from Marcin Gortat. Markieff Morris finished with 12, Jared Dudley had 10 and Steve Nash posted nine points with 10 assists. The veteran
swingman however gave away seven turnovers and was emphatically blocked by Wade early.
Miami had a 17-8 start to the game, but allowed the Suns to make it a one point game, 31-32, early in the second. Wade, Norris Cole and Haslem combined to provide some resistance to the Suns for a while, but the visitors were just
getting warmed up, and with the scores at 44-38, they erupted with a 15-4 spurt to take a 53-48 lead.
Chalmers split a pair of free throws to cap the first half 49-53, but the Suns made it 58-51 inside the first two minutes of the third frame.
Miami responded by making good on their next five field goal attempts and pair of free throws for Wade and Haslem eventually gave the lead to the Heat, 66-65.
With 3:02 left in the period Miami were leading by 70-68, when Morris made a three point play and then followed up with a jumper to start a 7-nothing run that ensured a 75-72 Phoenix advantage, entering the ultimate quarter.
The Suns outscored Heat 15-8 to begin the last stanza, but then faded away to allow the Heat a 17-0 run and a come-from-behind win.
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