Shorthanded Heat dominates fourth quarter to defeat Clippers, start six-game trip 2-0

This wasn’t a game the Heat was supposed to win.

Shorthanded and on the second night of a road back-to-back set against a team that entered with a 9-1 home record, the odds were definitely not on Miami’s side.

But somehow with just eight available players for most of the game, the Heat (11-14) found a way to escape Staples Center on Saturday with a 121-98 victory over the Clippers (16-9) to start its season-long six-game trip with two wins.

Miami won despite missing Goran Dragic (rest), Josh Richardson (right shoulder impingement), Hassan Whiteside (personal reasons), Wayne Ellington (personal reasons) and Dion Waiters (ankle surgery), and Tyler Johnson exited the contest in the first quarter because of a left hip contusion and never returned. That left the Heat with eight available players for the final three quarters.

Still, Miami led by as many as 13 points in the first half. But Los Angeles rallied to eventually take the lead and make it a back-and-forth game.

The Heat took control in the fourth quarter, though, outscoring the Clippers 30-8 in the period to turn a one-point lead at the start of the frame into a 23-point victory.

In what was his 1,000th career regular-season game, Wade led the Heat with a team-high 25 points with the help of 5-of-10 shooting from three-point range. He became the 15th active player to hit the 1,000 game milestone.

Justise Winslow turned in another impressive performance, setting a new season-high in points for the second consecutive night. After scoring a season-high 20 in Friday’s win over the Suns, Winslow surpassed that mark with 21 points to go with six rebounds and nine assists Saturday.

Miami’s defense limited Los Angeles to 37.1 percent shooting. Tobias Harris led the Clippers with 20 points.

Next up for the Heat is a Monday matchup with LeBron James and the Lakers.

This story was originally published December 9, 2018 at 1:06 AM.