LEAD: Wade returns with 28 points, Heat beats short-handed Knicks

By Paul Levine Jan 28, 2012, 7:53 GMT

Los Angeles - Dwyane Wade returned to the lineup on Friday night and the Miami Heat superstar showed he hadn't missed a beat.

Wade scored 28 points after missing the last six games with a right ankle sprain, and the Heat withstood a three-point barrage to beat the short-handed New York Knicks, 99-89, for its sixth victory in the last seven games.

'I just tried to be aggressive,' said Wade, who made 11-of-19 field goals, all six free throws to go along with five steals and two blocked shots. 'I had been out for a while. The best way to get your rhythm is attacking the basket.'

'D-Wade made some plays like he been on the floor the whole time,' said teammate LeBron James, who finished with a game-high 31 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. 'It was great to have him back.'

Bill Walker hit seven threes en route to 21 points for the visiting Knicks, who drilled a season-high 18-of-43 from behind the arc but lost for the eighth time in the last nine games.

Playing without their leading scorer Carmelo Anthony, sidelined by thumb, wrist and ankle injuries, the Knicks relied on the long ball and shot lights out on three-pointers through three quarters.

Looking in mid-season form, Wade scored 18 points as the Heat led 52-48 at halftime despite the Knicks making 10 of 23 three's.

Walker had all of his triples by the end of the third quarter and the Heat took a 74-71 advantage into the final frame before Wade and James went to work.

Ahead by seven, Wade took a pass from James and soared in for an electrifying alley-oop dunk with four minutes 41 seconds left that gave the Heat an 88-79 cushion. James ran off nine straight points and Wade's dunk off a steal put the exclamation point on his return.

Elsewhere: Philadelphia 89, Charlotte 72: Lou Williams scored 17 points, Jrue Holiday had 15 and the Sixers sent the league-worst Bobcats (3-17) to their season-high seventh straight setback.

Oklahoma City Thunder 120, Golden State Warriors 109: Kevin Durant had 37 points with 14 rebounds, Russell Westbrook added 28 points, 11 assists and seven steals, and the visiting Thunder improved to a league-best 16-3 record after slipping past the Warriors.

Boston Celtics 94, Indiana Pacers 87: Paul Pierce scored 17 of his 28 points in the third quarter to go along with 10 rebounds and eight assists, carrying the short-handed Celtics minus injured All-Star guards Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo to their fourth straight win.

New Jersey Nets 99, Cleveland Cavaliers 96: Deron Williams had 27 points with 10 assists, and the visiting Nets edged the Cavs despite a career-high 32-point effort from Cavs' top rookie Kyrie Irving.

Atlanta Hawks 107, Detroit Pistons 101 (OT): Joe Johnson scored 30 points, including a game-tying three-pointer in the closing seconds of the regulation, Josh Smith had 19 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, and the visiting Hawks handed the Pistons their 13th loss in its last 15 games.

Chicago Bulls 107, Milwaukee Bucks 100: League most valuable player Derrick Rose poured in a season-high 34 points, leading the Bulls over the visiting Bucks, playing without centre Andrew Bogut, for eight-to-12 weeks because of a fractured ankle.

Houston Rockets 103, Washington Wizards 76: Chase Budinger had 21 points. Argentine Luis Scola added 19 and the Rockets outscored the visiting Wizards 59-35 in the second half for their eighth win in the last nine games.

Minnesota Timberwolves 87, San Antonio Spurs 79: Kevin Love collected 18 points with 16 rebounds, and the Timberwolves closed the game on a 10-0 to beat the visiting Spurs for just the third time in the last 24 meetings.

New Orleans Hornets 93, Orlando Magic 67: Carl Landry tallied 17 points, Marco Belinelli added 15 and the Hornets snapped a season-high nine game losing streak despite 28 points and 16 rebounds by Magic's Dwight Howard.

Dallas Mavericks 116, Utah Jazz 101: Rodrigue Beaubois scored 22 points and Lamar Odom added 19 - both season-highs - as the Mavericks overcame the early loss of All-Star guard Jason Kidd (right calf strain), to beat the visiting Jazz for the sixth straight time.

Denver Nuggets 96, Toronto Raptors 81: Spaniard Rudy Fernandez fired in 23 points, Italian hot-shot Danilo Gallinari added 21, and the Nuggets rolled to their sixth straight win, rocking the visiting Raptors minus their leading scorer Andrea Bargnani (aggravated calf strain).

Portland Trail Blazers 109, Phoenix Suns 71: LaMarcus Aldridge scored 23 points, Marcus Camby grabbed 20 rebounds and the Trail Blazers blasted the Suns at home for the sixth straight time.