NBA Game Summary - Miami at New Jersey 05.13.2006
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East Rutherford, NJ (Basketball News) - Dwyane Wade didn’t let an elbow to the face slow him down, as he scored 30 points, dished out 10 assists and pulled down seven rebounds in Miami’s 103-92 victory over New Jersey in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Wade, who was the recipient of an inadvertent elbow from Nets guard Vince Carter in the third quarter, missed just one of his 15 foul shots, as the Heat took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Wade scored half his points in the last 4 1/2 minutes of the final quarter.
Shaquille O’Neal ended with 19 points and nine rebounds, while Antoine Walker contributed 16 points for Miami. The Heat capitalized on six New Jersey turnovers in the fourth quarter, leading to 10 Miami points.
Carter poured in 43 points, an all-time Nets playoff-high, shooting 17- of-34 from the field. Richard Jefferson chipped in 17 for the short-handed Nets, who were without forward Cliff Robinson. He was suspended for five games after violating the terms of the league’s anti-drug program.
Game 4 is Sunday at Continental Airlines Arena.
Wade fell to the floor with under nine minutes left in the third quarter as Carter tried to drive to the basket. Play continued as Wade remained sprawled on the floor face down. He then went to the locker room on his own with 8:13 left in the period and returned less than three minutes later, but Miami fell behind by eight points at that juncture, 64-56, as the Nets capped a 15-0 run.
The Heat used an 8-1 run later in the third to tie the game at 72 going into the fourth.
Carter’s driving layup gave the Nets an 81-80 lead with 4:36 left, but Miami responded with an 11-2 run to pull away. Wade’s layup, which turned into a three-point play, started it, and O’Neal’s alley-oop jam off a feed from Wade with 2:17 left was the exclamation point, extending the margin to 91-83.
The Nets couldn’t get closer than six points after the jam, as Wade kept them at bay by sinking all 11 of his free throws down the stretch.
Jason Kidd had 10 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds for New Jersey.
New Jersey led by as many as six in the opening quarter, but Miami rallied to forge a 27-27 tie going into the second.
Two free throws by Alonzo Mourning capped eight straight points by the Heat, moving them to a 34-27 lead. However, the Nets answered with the next nine points.
The Heat didn’t miss a beat in the second quarter, shooting 53.8 percent. An 18-7 spurt gave Miami a 54-45 lead, with Walker’s three finishing the rally. It was 54-49 at the half.