Dwyane Wade 2005 Playoffs: 42pts, Gm 4 vs. Wizards

WASHINGTON (AP) -- While Shaquille O'Neal sat, the phenom-on-the-rise had a dazzling coming-out party.

The Miami Heat swept into the Eastern Conference finals Saturday night, finishing off the Washington Wizards 99-95 with an unbelievable third quarter from Dwyane Wade.

Wade scored 22 of his career playoff-high 42 points in the third, going 7-for-7 from the field and 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. He broke franchise records for points in a playoff quarter and a playoff game and scored 31, 31 and 42 in the last three games of the series. He averaged 28.6 in sweeps over New Jersey and Washington, more than compensating for the ailing O'Neal.

"To me, it's a remake of 'A Star is Born.' You could take the two series and make a movie out of it, because he's certainly raised his game," Washington coach Eddie Jordan said. "He's certainly a bona fide star in this league right now at his tender young age, whatever it is."

For the record, Wade is 23. More fans will want to know facts after Saturday night's prime-time show, intensifying a star status he has already started to sense as the playoffs progress.

"When you go out, you feel a little different. The players treat you a little different around the league," said Wade, who has been overshadowed by fellow 2003 draftees LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. "But at the same time, I'm just going to try to get better. Hopefully, this whole season, not just the playoffs, people got an opportunity to see the way that I play, and I hope they like it."

O'Neal missed his second straight game with a deep thigh bruise that has hobbled him for several weeks. The sweep will give him a minimum of eight days to recover, with the conference finals against Detroit or Indiana not scheduled to start until May 23, at the earliest.

"There's always a Diesel flow to our team," Wade said. "Shaq came to us before the game and told us: 'I'm proud of y'all. You can do this regardless.' And we did it with the help of our big man. He wasn't in the game with us, but he was just as big in these two games. It's very big to give him some more rest."

A healthy O'Neal wasn't necessary against New Jersey or Washington. The Heat went 15-0 against the two teams and are the first team in NBA history to sweep the same two teams in the playoffs that it swept during the regular season. Miami has also won 12 straight against Washington over two seasons.

For all of Wade's heroics, the series wasn't complete until Eddie Jones made a 3-pointer from the right wing with 14.9 seconds remaining. The Heat blew an 11-point lead over the final six minutes and had missed 16 straight shots until Jones' basket gave Miami a 97-95 lead.

Washington's Larry Hughes had a chance to tie the game with a drive to the basket, but Alonzo Mourning blocked the shot with 8.3 seconds remaining. Wade then made two free throws for the final points, ending the Wizards' best season in decades. They made the playoffs for the first time in eight years and won a series for the first time since 1982.

"We wanted to be a lot more competitive as far as wins in this series," Washington coach Eddie Jordan said. "But it was a learning process for a young team, a team that had to deal with adversity."

The Wizards simply could not stop Wade in the third quarter, whether he was working himself open for a jumper or grabbing an offensive rebound and going back up for a dunk. He finished 13-for-22 from the field and 16-for-17 from the line.

"Most people now think he's in the top 10 or 15 players in the league," coach Stan Van Gundy said. "He's earned as much respect as you can earn in your second year."

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[Ty Garcia]

Wade is a slasher, he attacks the rim with crazy force. When you attack the rim like that your going to get fouls. I watched every minute of every game and i never saw a foul called on Wade that No other player got in the playoffs. He attacked every play. Show me a play where it was a phantom call and the NBA "GAVE HIM THE CALLS" and ill believe you. But When you are a superstar who attacks the rim (Jordan, LeBron, Kobe, Wade) your going to get foul called. Its been that way forever

[nigga851]

I miss when wade use to play like this. Use his quickness and athleticism to get to the rim.

[Dar Al Uloom SB]

He was really fast

[GTAgamerHD]

I miss the old jerseys. the new ones with the holes are plain shit. the shiney older types were the best

[rwc20071]

He still does?

[Goonsout16]

wade is so underrated

[Alphy ba]

he is

[luisin santana]

Yea he is a great shooter he shoots 29 % from 3.

[pkimmmm]

dude, don't even call yourself a dwade fan if you don't even know his gameplay

dwade fan my ass.

[oldmanwithers1]

There was a reason LeBron got the MVP, because he was far and away the best player in the league. Stats both basic and advanced will point to him having an all-time historical season in 08-09, and as great as Wade was, he just didn't have the same staggering impact and success on his team.

[gocelts34n7]

he can shoot pretty good, he just doesnt shoot 3pointers much

[gocelts34n7]

This is when Wade was the most exciting player in the nba.

2006 playoffs and 06-07 and 08-09 was when he was the best player in the nba.