Heat Even Series Behind Wade’s 40-Point Outburst
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MIAMI – They call him “Flash,” and Dwyane Wade certainly performed like a superhero in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Miami’s up-and-coming superstar had yet another impressive postseason performance last night, rediscovering his aggressiveness and taking over in the fourth quarter by scoring 20 of his 40 points as the Heat defeated the Detroit Pistons 92-86 to even the best-of-seven series.
This was the type of effort the Heat had grown accustomed to receiving from the 23-year-old during their consecutive sweeps of the Nets and Wizards in the first two rounds of the playoffs, and Wade was able to summon another burst of brilliance to avoid having his team head to Detroit down 2-0.
Wade scored 14 of Miami’s first 16 points in the final quarter, then raced in from behind and came up with a crucial blocked shot of Chauncey Billups’s 3-point attempt to help the Heat hold off the defending NBA champions.
“I watched a lot of film, listened to a lot of people, and used everything my college coach and NBA coach told me, too,” said Wade, who shot 7-for-25 in Game 1. “They told me to come back with a good game. I was rushing some shots. I wasn’t being patient. Tonight I came out patient.”
Wade eclipsed 30 points for the sixth time this postseason. Shaquille O’Neal added 17 points and 10 rebounds for Miami, and Damon Jones had 14 points.
Richard Hamilton scored 21 points and Tayshaun Prince had 17 for the Pistons, who came back from a 14-point deficit but were helpless to stop Wade when he decided it was time to take over.
Detroit made its comeback from a 14-point deficit by hitting five 3-pointers in the third quarter, and the Pistons eventually made seven straight 3s while enduring a stretch of nearly 12 minutes without a 2-pointer.
Wade’s fourth-quarter outburst started as he opened the period with a bank shot and a driving dunk before O’Neal hit a jump hook. Wade scored Miami’s next 10 points on a tip-in, two 14-footers, a drive into the lane, and an alleyoop dunk, the last of which put the Heat ahead 78-76 with 5:12 left.
Detroit tied it once more before O’Neal converted a three-point play with 3:59 remaining to make it 81-78 and put the Heat ahead for good.
The teams combined for 46 free throws – 23 each – after attempting only 22 in Game 1.
