Wade’s triple-double carries Heat to 13th-straight win

Detroit, MI (Basketball News) - Dwyane Wade poured in 31 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and handed out 10 assists to post his first career triple-double, as Miami ran its franchise-best winning streak to 13 games with an 89-78 win over Detroit at The Palace.

Shaquille O’Neal struggled all night, but still ended with 21 points and seven boards for the Heat, who closed out the month of December with a nearly flawless 14-1 record. O’Neal shot only 9-of-21 from the floor, but was 3-of-4 from the foul line.

"I’m grateful for it," said Wade of his first triple-double as a professional. "My team needed me to step up tonight and I was able to do that."

Udonis Haslem ended with 16 points and seven boards while Eddie Jones chipped in 11 points for Miami, which has won seven straight road games and improved to 18-2 overall against Eastern Conference foes this year.

Richard Hamilton scored 19 points and Rasheed Wallace netted 13 with 11 rebounds for the Pistons, who had their three-game winning streak halted. Ben Wallace also scored 13 points while grabbing nine boards and Antonio McDyess contributed 12 points in the setback.

Detroit led by two after three quarters and increased its edge to five points early in the fourth. However, the Heat eventually tied the score at 76-76 on a pair of free throws by Wade with five minutes left.

Jones’ three-pointer, the team’s first of the game, staked Miami to a 79-78 edge moments later and the margin grew to three points on two Wade free throws with 3:27 remaining.

After a series of misses by both teams, O’Neal’s jump hook with 2:03 left made it 83-78. The Pistons then missed twice at the other end and Wade’s floater increased the lead to seven points.

Wade then hit a late basket for the final margin as Miami closed out the game on a commanding 18-2 surge, which included the last 13 points of the contest, to post the double-digit win. Wade had nine points and O’Neal added six during the crucial burst.

Detroit missed its final 14 shots in the game and did not make a field goal over the last 7:36. The Pistons ended a dismal 3-of-22 from the floor in the fourth quarter and were outscored 22-9.

The defending NBA champions led 20-17 after a competitive first quarter and increased the gap to seven points on McDyess’ basket with 5 1/2 minutes left in the second period. The Heat pulled within four late in the half, but trailed 47-41 at the intermission.

Hamilton scored nine points while McDyess added eight for the Pistons in the opening 24 minutes. Wade led all scorers with 18 points and O’Neal had just eight on 3-of-13 shooting, including nine straight misses during one stretch, for Miami in the first half.

Ben Wallace’s dunk with 8:47 remaining in the third quarter extended Detroit’s edge to 57-48, but the Heat used a 12-2 surge, capped by Haslem’s jump shot, to claim a 60-59 edge with just under five minutes left in the third. The game stayed close and the Pistons led 69-67 after 36 minutes.