Dwyane Wade drops 25 points in his 1,000th NBA game as short-handed Heat stand tall in win over Clippers
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dwyane Wade scored 25 points in his 1,000th career game, leading the Miami Heat to a 121-98 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night.
Wade was 8 for 21 from the field and 5 for 10 from 3-point range. The veteran guard will play his final regular-season game in Los Angeles on Monday against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Heat held a 91-90 lead after three quarters using a big fourth to pull away. From the end of the third until just over three minutes remained, the Heat went on a 25-2 run to take control.
Tobias Harris scored 20 points and Lou Williams added 18 for the Clippers, who were just 7 of 29 from 3-point range and 33 for 89 from the field.
Miami was without guard Josh Richardson, who was a late scratch because of a shoulder impingement. They also lost guard Tyler Johnson early in the first with a left hip contusion. Johnson had scored eight points in the opening five minutes. Goran Dragic was out because of rest.
The Heat finished strong despite playing Friday night at Phoenix when they defeated the Suns. Miami has won four of its past five games and is 2-0 to start a season-high six-game road trip.
As the Heat piled it on in the fourth, Clippers head coach Doc Rivers earned two quick technical fouls and was ejected.
James Johnson scored 18 points for the Heat and Kelly Olynyk added 15 points and 10 rebounds. Derrick Jones Jr. had 11 rebounds.
Danilo Gallinari had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers, who saw their NBA-best nine-game home win streak end. The Clippers entered having won 10 of their past 13 games.
TIP-INS
Heat: Wade was 4 for 7 from 3-point range in the opening two quarters, tying his career high for made 3s before halftime. ... Miami outscored the Clippers 30-8 in the final quarter to put the game away.
Clippers: The eight-point fourth quarter was their lowest scoring quarter since March 2003. ... Luc Mbah a Moute, who has not played since Oct. 23 because of a knee injury, is likely two weeks away from playing according to Rivers
UP NEXT
Heat: At the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday.
Clippers: At Phoenix on Monday.
