First Victory For New Heat, Win Over 76ers
Wade added 30 points to Heat's first win
Heat plays better but still does not look like a main contender for the title. Miami beat Philadelphia 76ers at Wachovia Center 97-87, on Wednesday night, to forget about their loss-debut to Celtics this week. If one of the big three should play the best, this was Dwyane Wade. He scored 30 points, to add in the same time seven rebounds, four assists, three steals and 2 blocks. Unlike Wade, 76ers Turner would only score 16 points. Coming after the 88-80 loss to Boston, Miami had to come with a first win for Wade and Chris Bosh, even if yesterday’s victory in Philadelphia didn’t look too scary for the main rivals.
But Wade warned that this is just the beginning of the real threat. He said after the game that the team is still improving and a little time might be needed until they will start looking like veritable champions. Furthermore, Wade added that what people saw on Wednesday wasn’t their peak. Although he missed few shots around the basket, he believes the next days will look better for him. Bosh would add to Miami’s victory scored 15 points, while James contributed with 16. On the other side, Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams added 15 points each to 76ers. James Jones declared he has been booed by the fans, but he said he got already used with such moments. And if the fans didn’t forget the loss against Celtics, James did. He played in the same time four 3s during a 16-2 run in the second period which finished 49-41 for the Heat. Miami dominated the game from the very beginning, finishing the first quarter 18-15 to raise their advantage in the second period which ended 31-26. The third was the one that gave everybody sensation of Miami winning the game. They smashed 76ers 31-13 in-the-mirror-result. The fourth quarter saw Heat playing more relaxed. They conceded it 17-33, but even so the 76ers didn’t look too happy with it.
Said Jones: “This is a game that I love and I had to sit down and say if I couldn’t be effective, if I couldn’t regain my form, I would have to consider doing something else.” Because of a wrist injury, James considered retirement at one point but he seems he forgot about it as he is still expected to play more games. As for the Sixers, Jason Kapono, Jru Holiday and Spencer Hawes couldn’t do more as Collins declared at the end of the game that the starters aren’t necessarily the best ones, as well. “My starters are not necessarily my best players, that’s why I said don’t get caught up in who’s starting,” he said.
