By Paul Levine May 13, 2006, 16:13 GMT
Los Angeles - Dwyane Wade got floored but got back up to help the Miami Heat deliver the late knockout blow.
New Jersey Nets player Vince Carter (L) gets his shot blocked by Miami Heat player Dwyane Wade (R) in the second half at Continental Airlines Arena in New Jersey, Friday 12 May, 2006. EPA/PETER FOLEY
Wade shook off an elbow to the face to score seven of his 30 points down the stretch, sparking the Heat past the New Jersey Nets, 103-92 Friday night, and a 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
'Dwyane is an amazing player,' said Heat coach Pat Riley. 'He makes it look real easy and I know how hard it has to be. He's just a blessing for us and our franchise.'
Shaquille O'Neal collected 19 points and nine rebounds while Antoine Walker scored 16 points for Miami, which regained home-court advantage with game four on Sunday at New Jersey.
Before Wade came alive, he caught an unintentional right elbow to the mouth in the third quarter from the Nets' Vince Carter, who wasted a playoff franchise-record 43 points. Wade hit the floor and stayed down for a pair of possessions before walking back to the locker room for treatment.
'His arm caught me pretty good in the chin and it knocked me silly for a minute,' Wade said. 'I felt like I was on the ground for about five minutes. Once I went to the locker room and they said I didn't need any stitches I was ready to come back out.'
After Carter drove in for a spectacular lay-up to give the Nets an 81-80 advantage with 4:36 left, Wade and the Heat defence came alive.
'You got to love it,' Wade said of his late heroics. 'They put the ball in your hands, they call your number, you always want to come through. It was my time to step up to the challenge.'
Wade's three-point play put Miami ahead for good, 83-81 The Heat then forced three straight turnovers, including two straight by Carter. Gary Payton converted one into a lay-up and Wade hit two free throws. Payton picked off Jason Kidd's pass, leading to two more free throws by Wade to cap a 9-0 run for an 89-81 advantage with 3:13 remaining.
'Our turnovers led to a lot of their easy baskets, which gave them a little separation,' Carter said. 'We just lost our focus for a second. Once we tried to get it all back, it was too late.'
Wade added six free throws and a jumper in the final minute to seal the victory.
Carter eclipsed the late Drazen Petrovic's Nets' playoff record but received little help from his teammates in the second half.
Richard Jefferson had 17 points but just two after intermission. Kidd had 10 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds but was scoreless in the final 24 minutes.
'I'm not shooting shots just to see how many points I can score,' said Carter who made 17-of-34 shots. 'I'm trying to be aggressive and effective to help my team get a win.'
The Nets played without veteran reserve forward Cliff Robinson, who was given a five-game suspension for violating the league's anti- drug policy.
Elsewhere:
Two-time league Most Valuable Player Steve Nash wasn't at his best, but Shawn Marion was and it proved to be just enough for the Phoenix Suns.
Nash hit a 15-footer jumper with 3.6 seconds left to give the visiting Suns a 94-91 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers for a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference semifinals.
'Sometimes when you struggle you really hope you get a last chance to make up for a poor performance,' said Nash, who had just 12 points on 3-of-9 shooting but handed out 12 assists. 'I was happy to get an opportunity to help my guys.
'It was a lucky shot. I got one to go. It was prefect timing for us.'
Marion had a playoff career-high 32 points and 19 rebounds, while Tim Thomas added 19 and 14 boards for Phoenix, which relied on its uncharacteristic defence to regain home-court advantage in the best- of-seven game series.
Elton Brand had 20 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, while Vladimir Radmanovic had 14 of his 18 points in the final quarter to pace the Clippers, who host game four Sunday night.
'We definitely felt like it got away, but they stepped up and took it,' Brand said.
The Suns trailed 85-82 before closing on a 12-6 run.
Marion's 3-pointer knotted game at 85 with 2:58 remaining. After Shaun Livingston made one free throw to give the Clippers a one-point lead, Nash and Thomas hit two free throws apiece.
Marion converted a three-point play opening up a 92-86 advantage, but Brand countered, cutting the lead in half.
Two free throws by Quinton Ross pulled the Clippers with one with 28.4 seconds left.
The Suns dribbled down the clock before getting the ball to Nash, who drilled the dagger from left side. Radmanovic tried to force overtime but missed a 3-pointer to end the game.
Your Talkback on this Story