NBA recap: Miami Heat launch a third quarter assault to down New Jersey Nets 101-89
The New Jersey Nets came into the match hoping to avoid a fourth consecutive loss in the season and second to Miami Heat in a row. The trio of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh had other ideas, though. The ‘Big Three’ combined
for 73 points as Miami Heat breezed past the New Jersey Nets by 12 points.
The Heats, who have kept all their opponents to less than 100 points this season, did it again as they launched an assault early in the second half to secure a 101-89 win.
The match started with the New Jersey Nets keeping pace with the explosive arsenal of the Heats. Brook Lopez, who had a nightmare against Dwight Howard-led Orlando Magic in the last game, was in the groove early as he redeemed
himself with 8 points in the first quarter to set the pace for his team. Anthony Morrow slipped in two three-pointers, nailing 11 points for his team as the Nets led by one point at 25-24 at the end of the first quarter.
Dwyane Wade took a nasty blow on the knee while trying to drive the ball in and had to be substituted with 1:23 in the first quarter. The tough guy returned though, in the second period as Miami started to step up their offensive.
With LeBron James still in his strides early in the second quarter, it was Wade who turned the heat on for Miami. He scored 12 points in the period, boosting the Heats to a four-point advantage at half time at 55-51.
Miami came hard at the Nets after the first half to continue their third quarter domination in the season. James, who was happy to sit back and make the play till the half-time, really let it rip in the third quarter. He scored
14 points in the quarter as the Heats sprinted to a 25-10 run in the final 7 minutes to bust open the lead to 19 points at 87-68 going into the final quarter.
With the match effectively sealed in favour of the Heats, the New Jersey Nets tried to stage a comeback. The Heats, though, had all the bases covered as they fought off a late 10-2 surge in the final five minutes to win the match
at 101-89.
The match witnessed an ever increasing rhythm between LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, as the duo got the adrenaline pumping by orchestrating some beautiful moves. James went behind-the-back for an awesome assist to set Wade up for
a dunk late in the first half and Wade returned the favour in the third to find James at the end of a lob for a stylish Alley-oop Dunk Shot, as the duo enjoyed the latter with a twisting, side-bumping airborne celebration.
The highlight of the show though was Chris Bosh, who finally stepped up to the party and scored his first 20 of the season, rendering the Miami offense ever so dangerous.
Dwyane Wade continued his excellent form as he scored 29 points and 10 boards. LeBron James, who has settled in a more flexible role with Wade leading Miami's charge, had another all round game. He netted 23 points and also chipped
in with 9 assists as the Heats shot at 36-for-64.
Anthony Morrow led the offense for the New Jersey Nets, scoring 25 points including four 3-pointers. Brook Lopez, who started the match on a high shooting 3 of 4 in the first quarter, faded away afterwards and could only score
4 more points to finish at 12 points, shooting 2-for-16. The Nets could not match the offensive prowess of Miami and also got outrebounded 44-41 in the match.
The New Jersey Nets let the Miami offense off the hook in the third quarter and it came back to haunt them as they slip 2-4 in the season. After the match, the Nets coach Avery Johnson highlighted his team’s ordeal. “We’ve got
to play better defence,” he said. “Take better care of the basketball and have better third quarters''.
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