Miami Heat Team Report - February 12

(Basketball News) - Dwyane Wade poured in a game-high 27 points and Rafer Alston added 23, as the Miami Heat defeated the Orlando Magic 111-98 on Wednesday at TD WaterHouse Centre.

Lamar Odom added 18 points and Brian Grant netted 16 points with 12 rebounds for the Heat, who snapped a five-game losing streak. Wade finished with 10 rebounds and Alston was hot from beyond the arc, hitting 5-of-6 shots.

The Heat owned a 77-56 lead midway through the third quarter on a free throw by Eddie Jones. The Magic answered with a 13-6 spurt to climb back in the contest.

Juwan Howard’s jumper concluded the run, making it an 83-69 game with under two minutes left. Heading into the final frame the Heat led 87-72.

Orlando’s hot shooting continued and the Magic started the fourth quarter on a 12-5 burst to get to within 92-84. Tracy McGrady’s jumper with under nine minutes left in the contest cut the deficit to eight points.

Moments later Wade’s jumper ended a 6-2 run that staked the Heat to a 98-86 cushion. The Magic made one last push and made it a 103-96 contest on a McGrady free throw with 2:01 to play. That was as close as they would get.

Alston ended the threat and sealed the game with a trey, making it 106-96, with 1:04 remaining.

The Heat are off until after the All-Star break. Miami hosts the Utah Jazz on Tuesday.