Dwyane Wade strikes again as Miami Heat hold off the Houston rockets 125-119
The Miami Heat have been a force to reckon with on the road this December.
With only one of their last nine consecutive wins coming by fewer than 10 points, they extended their away streak to double figures on Wednesday night, as they overcame
a belligerent challenge from the up-beat Houston Rockets. Dwyane Wade was once again phenomenal, bludgeoning 45 points on a 17-of-24 shooting from the floor in a high scoring extravaganza. LeBron
James scored 20 points, nine assists and six rebounds. While Chris Bosh hammered 21 points as the Big Three sparked the Heat to the best December in franchise history.
In one of the most intriguing showdowns of the season, the Rockets drove right to the throats of their much hyped opponents, and it took some swash-buckling display
of offence by Wade down the stretch to ultimately fight off the home team. Wade scored 17 points in the last twelve minutes as he posted 40-plus scores in consecutive games for the first time in his career. The
match started at a furious pace as both teams rang up one spurt after another. Miami were the first one to pull away, sprinting to 13-5 advantage within the first five minutes of play. The Rockets sprung right back though, as they thundered their way to tie
the game at 15-all. The see-saw action that ensued afterwards finally culminated in the final minute, as the Heat nailed the last six points to lead at 35-28.
The Rockets came out with attacking intent in the second quarter, as they made good on their first four possessions to rattle a 9-2 run that dragged them right back
into the game. Houston's onslaught didn’t end there as they continued to pry apart the Heat defence, racing into a four-point lead midway through the period. The Rockets apparently had
the tide turning in their advantage at that point, but Wade came to Miami’s rescue as he scored seven points in a 9-2 run to give them another lifeline. The Rockets though again turned the screws and went into the locker room with a 62-59 advantage.
The Rockets continued their up-tempo style of offence in the second half as well and blazed away to a 76-67 advantage early in the third quarter. Miami however responded
ferociously, reeling off an 11-4 run to pull within two. The Heat resurgence didn’t end there as a minute later they sizzled with another 10-2 run to head into the final quarter with an 88-84 lead. The
thriller ensued in the fourth quarter but Aaron Brooks took the gloss off an otherwise fairly contested match as he smacked Wade, who was rising up for a jam, on the face. The foul really infuriated the sharp-shooting guard and he vented his frustration by
busting open the Rockets defence.
Two minutes after being flagrantly fouled, Wade drove down the lane for an awkward lay-up and followed it with one from downtown to push the Heat's lead to 100-93. Though
the Rockets pulled within four after nearly three minutes, Miami’s advantage was never threatened as they held on for a 125-119 win. The Rockets were led by Luis Scola who chipped in
with 22 points, while Kevin Martin finished with 21 while Brooks added 20 points and nine assists for the Rockets. Their endeavours were not enough though to prevent an eight-match successful home run being snapped.
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