Wade turns up Heat on Bucks

Gary Payton netted 20 points and pulled down six rebounds and Shaquille O’Neal added 13 points and six rebounds for the Heat, who have won both of their games since Pat Riley took the coaching job after Steve Van Gundy resigned on Monday. Miami has won its last three games.

Michael Redd scored 24 points and added six assists and T.J. Ford chipped in 17 points and nine assists for the Bucks, who had a three-game winning streak stopped.

The Heat scored the first five points to start the game. However, the Bucks went on a 15-2 run capped off by a Jamaal Magloire dunk with under six minutes left in the opening quarter and the Bucks led 26-18 going into the second stanza.

Miami started the second quarter with a 15-6 run and had a 33-32 lead after Payton hit a jump shot with 7:50 to play until halftime.

The teams exchanged leads several times in the second, but Miami scored seven straight points and had a 47-41 lead with 1:28 to play. However, Redd hit a basket and a free throw in the last minute to cut the Miami lead to 47-44 going into the locker room.

The Heat continued to increase their lead in the third quarter and held a 12- point advantage after James Posey hit a three-pointer with 5:02 left to make it a 64-52 contest.

The Bucks got back to within six after Ford hit a jumper with 26 seconds left, but Antoine Walker countered with a jumper of his own and the Heat led 72-64 going into the last 12 minutes.

Miami steadily increased its margin throughout the fourth quarter. The closest Milwaukee got was within nine points after Ford hit a jumper to make it an 89-80 game with 4:02 to play.

However, Udonis Haslem and Wade hit the next two baskets and the Heat cruised the rest of the way to victory.

Game Notes

Miami travels to Philadelphia for a matchup on Friday...The Bucks conclude their three-game road trip Friday at Boston...Magloire finished the game with seven points and 13 rebounds...Milwaukee outrebounded Miami 46-43...Haslem had seven points and 10 rebounds in the game...The Heat shot 7-for-19 from beyond the arc, while the Bucks were only 3-for-21.