Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh pave way as Heat edge Nets
NEW YORK (AP) -- With the game on the line, Miami's dynamic duo of Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh carried the Heat to a win.
Wade and Bosh each scored 27 points, leading the Miami Heat over the Brooklyn Nets 102-98 on Tuesday night.
"We have to be aggressive all the time, really, no matter who is in the game," Bosh said. "The team is looking for us to be effective all the time, especially late. That's our job. Dwyane, he's one of the best in the world at it. He's going to get his shot and he's usually going to make it. I just try to work off of him and shoot the ball with confidence and make plays when it's time."
The duo combined for Miami's final 12 points on the night.
"Well, Wade and Bosh got us again," Nets coach Tony Brown said. "Down the stretch we were trying some different things to try and slow down the momentum. Wade was able to get away in some isolation situations and get off some good looks, and Bosh at the end of the second half, the isolations and open shots."
Wade also had eight assists and four rebounds. Justise Winslow added 13 points and seven rebounds for the Heat.
"(Winslow's) a Swiss Army knife that can do a lot of different things," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Andrea Bargnani had 20 points and Joe Johnson had 15 for the Nets.
Bargnani and Bosh were once former teammates, and franchise building blocks, on the Toronto Raptors.
"I knew he was going to be up for this game," Bosh said. "It's like old times in Toronto when we used to go at each other. He's a very good player and I think he's really found a niche off the bench for (Brooklyn). When he gets aggressive he's tough to guard. He's got that high release, his catch-and-go game is very good."
The Nets trailed 94-93 with 1:54 left when Thaddeus Young missed a hook shot at the rim. Luol Deng then found a cutting Wade backdoor for the layup while he was fouled, and he made the free throw.
Deng made a steal on Brooklyn's next possession, leading to Wade's 20-foot fallaway jumper.
"The coaches and my teammates put the ball in my hand to make plays or to score the basketball," Wade said. "That's what I do."
Donald Sloan answered with a 3-pointer for the Nets and Wayne Ellington missed a 3 that would've tied it.
Bosh hit one of two foul shots and the Heat held on.
TIP-INS
Heat: Wade moved past Clifford Robinson for sole possession of 43rd place on the NBA career scoring list. ... Goran Dragic was ruled out before the game with a strained left calf. He has missed eight straight games and coach Erik Spoelstra hopes he'll return sooner than later. "We just want to make sure there isn't a setback," Spoelstra said. "He's healed, but you want to test it." ... Udonis Haslem appeared in his 800th career game, all as a member of Miami. ... Hassan Whiteside, Chris Andersen and Josh McRoberts did not dress.
Nets: Johnson has improved his shooting since Tony Brown became interim coach. "I see him more engaged, more into the game versus being a guy that is just spotting up on the perimeter waiting for the ball to find him," Brown said. In January, Johnson is shooting 49 percent overall and 52 percent from 3-point range as a result. ... Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Chris McCullough and Jarrett Jack did not dress.
UP NEXT
Heat: Visit Milwaukee on Friday.
Nets: Visit Dallas on Friday.
