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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Wade scores 41 to lift Miami over Charlotte

Associated Press

MIAMI — It's only an 8-second snippet, but it perfectly shows what Dwyane Wade meant to the Miami Heat last night.

Fourth quarter, 4:10 remaining, Heat down by two. Wade leaps over two players to snare a defensive rebound with his outstretched right hand. He turns around, dribbles upcourt, splits two defenders near the top of the key and drives the lane for a thundering dunk over Charlotte's Emeka Okafor.

"It was just winning time," Wade said after the Heat's 100-96 win over the Charlotte Bobcats.

Yep, he was just about unstoppable again.

Wade scored 41 points, 10 in the final 8 1/2 minutes, to lead the Heat back from a seven-point deficit for their fourth straight win — extending Miami's longest streak since the 2006-07 season.

"He took over the game," Charlotte's Jason Richardson said.

He's been doing that with regularity so far this season.

Adding to his NBA-best scoring average, Wade was 12 for 22 from the floor, 15 for 19 from the line, and added eight rebounds for good measure as the now-requisite cries of "M-V-P" serenaded him from the stands. He even found Shawn Marion for the basket with 1:01 left that put Miami ahead to stay and gave the Heat just their second win in the last eight meetings with Charlotte.

"This team never goes away, kind of like us," Wade said.

WARRIORS 112, THUNDER 102

OKLAHOMA CITY — Andris Biedrins had 17 points and 21 rebounds, and Golden State ended its nine-game losing skid by holding off a late surge led by Kevin Durant.

Durant scored a season-high 41 and helped Oklahoma rally from 21 down in the fourth quarter, making consecutive 3-pointers to pull The Thunder (2-20) to 105-102 with about 33 seconds left before dropping their fourth straight.

GRIZZLIES 109, ROCKETS 97

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Rudy Gay scored 20 points, and Hakim Warrick and O.J. Mayo added 18 points apiece as Memphis won its second straight at home.

Memphis made its first six 3-pointers to build an early lead and shot 51 percent overall. Gay, who did not start after arriving late for the shootaround, made eight of 14 shots.

MAGIC 95, CLIPPERS 88

LOS ANGELES — Dwight Howard led Orlando with 23 points and 22 rebounds, and the Magic beat Los Angeles.

Howard hit 20-20 for the second game in a row and it was his 17th double-double of the season. He also had six blocks and four assists.