Related News
Home » Sports » Basketball
Wade forces Hawks decider
Source: Agencies |
May 3, 2009, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
DWYANE Wade scored 41 points to lead the Miami Heat to a 98-72 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday and force a deciding Game 7 in their Eastern Conference playoff series.
Wade made 11-of-23 field goals and 16 free throws to help the Heat tie the best-of-seven series 3-3 after the Hawks recorded a 106-91 victory in Game 5 on Wednesday.
Wade scored 10 points in the third, and 12 in the fourth - highlighted by a dunk over Hawks center Zaza Pachulia - before he left to a standing ovation midway through the final period in Miami, Florida.
"From the beginning of the game we came out really aggressive and everyone was involved," Wade told reporters.
"Both teams will be desperate, it's the last game of the season for one team," he added of the decider in Atlanta, Georgia, tomorrow. "There's no pressure on us. We're the underdogs in this series."
Mike Bibby scored 20 points for the Hawks, who were playing without Al Horford, who sprained his ankle during Game 5.
Miami's Jermaine O'Neal also missed the game after he was concussed in Game 5 in what has been a physical series.
The Heat are also missing forward Jamario Moon, who has a hernia and will not play again this season.
Miami rookie forward Michael Beasley scored 22 points and made 15 rebounds in his best game of the postseason to gain some momentum heading into the final game.
"We have to maintain this edge," said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra. "We have to do whatever it takes in Game 7 to get the job done.
"That's been the story of this series for both teams, and who knows, maybe this will be the most epic of all the Game 7s."
The series has yet to feature a close game and each has been decided by 10 points or more.
"They had their way tonight and you have to tip your cap to them," said Hawks coach Mike Woodson.
"This series has been heated both ways. We feel good about going home and playing Game 7 in front of our home fans."
The Hawks lost a first-round Game 7 last season against Boston.
It'll be winner-take-all time, with the victor to go to Cleveland to open the second round against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.
Wade made 11-of-23 field goals and 16 free throws to help the Heat tie the best-of-seven series 3-3 after the Hawks recorded a 106-91 victory in Game 5 on Wednesday.
Wade scored 10 points in the third, and 12 in the fourth - highlighted by a dunk over Hawks center Zaza Pachulia - before he left to a standing ovation midway through the final period in Miami, Florida.
"From the beginning of the game we came out really aggressive and everyone was involved," Wade told reporters.
"Both teams will be desperate, it's the last game of the season for one team," he added of the decider in Atlanta, Georgia, tomorrow. "There's no pressure on us. We're the underdogs in this series."
Mike Bibby scored 20 points for the Hawks, who were playing without Al Horford, who sprained his ankle during Game 5.
Miami's Jermaine O'Neal also missed the game after he was concussed in Game 5 in what has been a physical series.
The Heat are also missing forward Jamario Moon, who has a hernia and will not play again this season.
Miami rookie forward Michael Beasley scored 22 points and made 15 rebounds in his best game of the postseason to gain some momentum heading into the final game.
"We have to maintain this edge," said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra. "We have to do whatever it takes in Game 7 to get the job done.
"That's been the story of this series for both teams, and who knows, maybe this will be the most epic of all the Game 7s."
The series has yet to feature a close game and each has been decided by 10 points or more.
"They had their way tonight and you have to tip your cap to them," said Hawks coach Mike Woodson.
"This series has been heated both ways. We feel good about going home and playing Game 7 in front of our home fans."
The Hawks lost a first-round Game 7 last season against Boston.
It'll be winner-take-all time, with the victor to go to Cleveland to open the second round against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
