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South Beach has never been so hot with Miami’s 101-89 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. Led by the big three of Dwayne Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh, who combined for 79 points, the Heat set franchise records for their best start to a season.
After 37 games (28-9) and a streak of 19 wins from 20 matches, the Heat have set a new record over a twenty game period.
Wade continued his solid form by scoring a game-high 34 points (Heat are 14-1 when Wade gets the game-high) on 10-19 shooting as well as draining 13 from 15 from the foul stripe. LeBron James contributed well all over the court, posting solid numbers with 25 points, six boards and nine assists.
James was in command of the first quarter, scoring the final six points giving the Heat a 26-20 lead going into the second.
Milwaukee did look promising in the first half, starting with two threes from Ersan Ilyasova and John Salmons. They continued to trade baskets with their highly favoured counterparts.
The second saw some key contributions from two of the unheralded players on the roster. Luc Mbah a Moute became a handful getting to the basket and drawing a handful of fouls.
Keyon Dooling had a solid first half, the one-time Heat guard from 2004-05 had a solid first half with nine points and two assists, and contributing four points in a 10-2 run to finish the second quarter, helping the Bucks take a surprising 51-48 lead into the main break.
The third quarter saw the Bucks fight off the Heat for the lead. With three minutes left in the quarter, Andrew Bogut was called for his fourth personal foul, and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra pulled Dwayne Wade to the bench. A controversial move seeing as though the Bucks had reached their foul limit.
A couple of minutes later, the turning point came with 1:20 to go in the third. The Bucks were up 68-67 when Bucks coach Scott Skiles was whistled for a technical foul.
Skiles inexplicably came out onto the court, hindering a Carlos Arroyo jump shot. Wade’s substitute James Jones knocked down the technical foul and on the ensuing possession Jones buried the Heat’s first three-pointer helping the Heat finish off the quarter with a 73-70 lead.
With the game still in the balance, Spoelstra’s decision to rest his Wade proved to be the difference. Wade came out and dominated the Bucks early in the fourth, registering ten points in a 12-4 run to start the quarter and push their lead out to eleven.
The Heat never looked back and with a pair of threes by Mario Chalmers with 2:30 remaining, the Heat skipped out to a 99-81 lead which sealed the Bucks fate. Wade scored 17 of his 34 in the decisive fourth. Andrew Bogut for the Bucks battled away in the fourth. The NBA’s league leader in blocks finished with 16 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks. The Bucks were led in scoring by John Salmons, who had 18 points.
On offense, the Heat looked solid around the basket leading points in the paint 46 to 32. Wade and James attacked the basket with command and Chris Bosh (19 points and 12 rebounds) displayed good range and solid touch around the basket. Miami dominated the boards, winning that category 47-34. This season when the Heat out rebound their opponents, they have won 21 of those 23 games. The Heat have won their last six games when James, Bosh and Wade score in double figures.
The Bucks now head up to Orlando tomorrow to face Dwight Howard and the rejuvenated Magic (22-12) who have won their last six. After that, the Bucks will head home to see the same Heat faces ready to battle them on Friday Night (Saturday Morning Australian time).
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