EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (NBA.com exclusive) -- The Nets' elusive quest for consecutive victories continues.
And after missing 11 straight fourth-quarter shots to blow a late six-point lead, it's not getting any easier for them to take.
The Heat, playing without an injured Dwyane Wade for most of the game, took advantage of New Jersey's late-game misfortunes and squeaked out an 87-84 win.
Behind Michael Beasley's 23 points, Miami now has its first four-game winning streak of the season. The Nets, however, will chalk this up as one of the few of their 49 losses they actually let slip away.
"It's disappointing," said Nets guard Devin Harris, who finished with 18 points on 6-for-15 shooting. "This was a game we should have won. It came down to fourth-quarter execution. We had some great looks, just didn't get any of them to fall."
"We didn't execute," added Keyon Dooling, who finished with 14 points. "In order to win the game, you've got to take it up another notch."
The Nets (5-49) liked their chances after a convincing 103-94 win over Charlotte on Tuesday night and after Wade left the game in the first quarter with a left calf strain. They trailed by eight late in the third quarter, but went on a 12-1 run to take a 73-70 lead early in the fourth quarter. Miami, in fact, went 0-for-6 with two turnovers to start the final frame.
A three-point play by Dooling with 4:56 left found New Jersey with an 80-74 lead.
But the Nets then went ice cold. They missed long jump shots on their next four trips down floor, looks that interim coach Kiki Vandeweghe was satisfied with. While New Jersey was closing out a 1-for-15 performance from 3-point range, the Heat closed the gap to 80-79 with 2:25 left on a jumper off the glass from Beasley.
Finally sensing the need for more of an inside offensive attempt, Harris drove and drew a foul with 2:12 left. He made both from the line to give the Nets an 82-79 lead, but Quentin Richardson (16 points) connected for a 3-pointer with 1:52 left to tie it up.
"I thought really sort of the icing on the cake was the Quentin Richardson three," Vandeweghe said. "It only tied it up, but it really was a momentum-changer for us."
The Nets kept missing. There was a Harris missed jumper rebounded by Brook Lopez (26 points) that Lopez couldn't put back. There was a Kris Humphries drive that was tipped by Jermaine O'Neal and blocked by Beasley. There was a wide-open, nine-foot miss by Harris that he just "short-armed" with 20.6 seconds left.
And the Heat took the lead from the line. An O'Neal free throw with 1:11 left gave Miami an 83-82 edge. Two from Richardson made it a three-point lead. Two more from O'Neal from the stripe with 23 seconds remaining made it 87-82 with 16.5 seconds left.
The news wasn't all great for Miami (28-27). Wade left the game with 4:34 left in the first quarter after appearing to strain his calf when grabbing the rebound of a missed 3-point attempt from Courtney Lee (who was 0-for-9 from the field).
"When I pushed off, I felt a little pop," Wade said. "I took two more steps and it felt the same way, so I knew I needed to get out.
"It's a little sore right now. So I guess we will see in the next day or so. We will take it day-by-day and get some treatment and therapy."
In addition to Wade being out, O'Neal also left the game in the first quarter with a sore back, but returned to contribute.
"I told the guys I was proud of them for the gutsy win," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra added. "We had every excuse possible. I was proud of our mental toughness in the fourth quarter."
The Nets, still aiming for a summer shopping spree with some $25 million in salary-cap space, are not expected to make any major deals before Thursday's 3 p.m. ET trading deadline. And even a minor one might be difficult, said Vandeweghe, who is still serving as the team's general manager while also the interim coach.
"Handicapping is always difficult because you're relying on a trade partner," Vandeweghe said. "I like our team. You look at the last year and a half, we've done a lot. We went from a team that was basically capped out, a luxury-tax payer, to a team that has right now the most cap room and a seat at the table of one of the biggest free agent years in history."
New Jersey, however, could explore buyouts with certain players after the trade deadline. One of those players possibly in line to be waived or dealt is veteran center Tony Battie, who has not returned to the team since the All-Star break due to a stomach virus.
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Kris Humphries Interview - 12/21/11by NBANets4,296 views
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leonardsteele5542 1 year ago