Recap: Miami vs. Philadelphia
Sports Network | November 05, 2008
Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Dwyane Wade had a phenomenal all-around performance with 29 points, seven rebounds, six assists, five steals and three blocks, as the Heat blew out the Philadelphia 76ers, 106-83.
Rookie Mario Chalmers set a Heat franchise-record with nine steals, and Miami forced 25 turnovers and held the Sixers to 37.5 percent shooting from the field.
The Heat, who had 18 steals on the night, won for the second time in four games this season and both the victories have come at home by wide margins. They also pounded Sacramento, 103-77, last Friday.
Michael Beasley totaled 17 points and nine rebounds for Miami. Shawn Marion, who suffered a broken nose during Saturday's 100-87 loss to Charlotte, was wearing a protective mask on Wednesday and finished with 12 points and seven boards.
Thaddeus Young had 19 points for the Sixers, but just two of them came in the second half for the Sixers. Lou Williams chipped in 16 points and Elton Brand ended with 12 points and 12 rebounds for Philadelphia, which was coming off a 125-91 home blowout of the Kings on Monday and had beaten the Heat five straight times.
Behind by 21 points at the half, the Sixers rallied in the third. Andre Miller's pull-up jumper on a fast break had the visitors within 65-56 with five minutes remaining in the quarter.
The Heat, though, quickly pumped up the margin to 17. Udonis Haslem's free throw capped the rally for a 75-58.
Williams drilled a three at the end of the quarter for a 75-63 deficit, but the Sixers never threatened in the final 12 minutes. Wade stepped by a stagnant Miller in the lane, then in-stepped to his left before nailing a fadeaway shot while being fouled. He converted the three-point play for a commanding 84-69 lead with 8:05 remaining.
Yakhouba Diawara had 11 points and Haslem 10 for the Heat, while Miller scored 11 to go with six assists for the Sixers.
It was a banner first half for the Heat, who forced 17 turnovers in the first 24 minutes. Miami had just three turnovers in the first two quarters and Wade had 17 points at the half.
Miami raced to an 11-2 lead, capped by a Marion basket off a feed from Wade. Philadelphia was within three a couple of times later in the quarter, but trailed 24-17 going to the second.
The Heat dominated the second quarter, using a 13-2 spurt to grab a commanding 51-27 cushion. Wade's long pass, leading to a Haslem alley-oop basket and subsequent three-point play, culminated the flurry with 2:45 remaining in the half. Wade breezed by the Philadelphia defense for a layup in the waning seconds for a 59-38 difference at intermission.
Young was 7-of-11 shooting in the first half, but the rest of the Sixers were 6-of-25...Young finished the game 3-of-7 from three-point range. He has made 10 three-pointers this season, and had made six three-pointers in 74 contests last season...Tim Hardaway held the old Heat record for steals in a game with eight on Dec. 20, 1997 against Atlanta.
