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Warriors 111, Heat 106 (OT)

Dwyane Wade’s return spoiled as Miami Heat loses to Warriors in overtime

 
 

LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat losses control of the ball when surrounded by the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena on January 10, 2012 in Oakland, California.
LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat losses control of the ball when surrounded by the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena on January 10, 2012 in Oakland, California.
Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

jgoodman@miamiherald.com

While you were sleeping, the Heat played its sloppiest game of the season.

In losing to Golden State 111-106 in overtime on Tuesday, the Heat (8-2) became the last team in the NBA to lose on the road. The return of Dwyane Wade, who had missed three straight games due to a sore left foot, couldn’t offset a rash of mistakes, missed opportunities, poor shooting and poorer decisions.

The game didn’t end until 1:29 a.m. on the East Coast. The Heat plays the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center at 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

“We didn’t close and that’s what that game came down to,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “That game was there to be had with three defensive stops and we couldn’t come up with the rebound.”

But rebounding wasn’t really the problem at Oracle Arena.

The Heat had 22 turnovers, missed 14 free throws and blew a 17-point lead in the third quarter by shooting 2 of 17 from the field in the final period. Meanwhile, the Warriors were no model of excellence either. Golden State finished the game with 20 turnovers of its own and shot 40 percent from the field, including 21.7 percent in the third quarter.

But the Warriors caught fire in the overtime. Led by Dorell Wright, the former Heat first-round pick, Golden State scored 15 points in the five-minute overtime period. Wright was perfect from the field in overtime, shooting 3 of 3 from the field and 2 of 2 from three-point range.

Wright, whose three-pointer with 31.2 seconds left in regulation tied the game at 96-all, started overtime with another three and then put the Warriors ahead 105-104 in overtime with his second three-pointer. He gave the Warriors a three-point lead with a fast-break lay up after teammate Nate Robinson stole a bad pass by LeBron James.

Wright entered the game averaging 5.8 points per game but scored 20 against his old team on 7 of 15 from the field and 6 of 11 from three-point range. He also had 10 rebounds.

Golden State outscored the Heat 24-12 in the fourth quarter. The Heat shot 11.8 percent in the quarter with Wade and Udonis Haslem scoring the only field goals of the period. But Haslem’s biggest contribution to the outcome game wasn’t his dunk that gave the Heat a 93-85 lead. With 1:55 left, Haslem lost his cool and received a technical foul for arguing with officials about a non-call.

Wade, who led the Heat with 34 points, ebbed in the fourth and shot 1 of 8 from the field. Still, he led the Heat with six points in the period, which was five more points than James offered. James finished with 26 points on 10 of 19 shooting.

“I did feel like I had a lay off but it was good to get back on the court,” Wade said “I just tried to be aggressive early.”

The Warriors (3-6) might have a losing record but they’ve already defeated Boston, New York and Heat at home. Golden State knocked off the team with the best record in the league on Tuesday without arguably its best player, guard Stephen Curry (ankle) and its starting center, Andris Biedrins (ankle).

Reserve Nate Robinson, the shortest player on the court at 5-9, led the Warriors with 24 points. He was 14 of 14 from the free-throw line and made several important shots during the Warriors’ fourth quarter comeback, including a pair of three-pointers.

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