Wade goes out a winner in Miami, Heat top 76ers 122-99
MIAMI (AP) Dwyane Wade's wife was slapping his backside in celebration.
His oldest son, the heir to the Wade basketball throne, was on the Miami bench for the final minutes.
Former President Barack Obama sent a video. John Legend and Chrissy Teigen were courtside. The ''M-V-P'' chants rained down while Wade played, one more time, the last Miami steps in this season-long One Last Dance.
Wade's final game in Miami was everything he wanted, and then some. He scored 30 points in the tribute-filled game, and the Heat sent him off a winner by defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 122-99 on Tuesday night. It was festive, all the way to the end, even though the Heat learned during the third quarter that they were eliminated from playoff contention.
''Wade County,'' Wade shouted to the crowd after the game after he jumped up onto the courtside table where Heat managing general partner Micky Arison sits, one last time, one last celebration. ''I love you.''
They loved him back. They have for 16 years. They will for 16 more, and 16 more after that, and 16 more after that, too.
''I'm still just amazed, even after all these years,'' Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. ''I've seen him go into his bag of tricks so many times and just compartmentalize. But I'm truly amazed that he was able to perform like that tonight.''
Bam Adebayo scored 19, Justise Winslow scored 16 and Hassan Whiteside added 15 for the Heat. The Heat were aware that Memphis had a big lead against Detroit, a must-win for the Grizzlies to keep Miami alive in the playoff race, but the Pistons rallied.
''It still was a beautiful night,'' Spoelstra said.
Wade's career will end Wednesday in Brooklyn, when Miami plays its regular-season finale. He checked out for the last time with 1:02 left, embracing teammates and his son Zaire - who was on the Heat bench.
Greg Monroe scored 18 points and Ben Simmons scored 16 for Philadelphia, which entered Tuesday already locked into the No. 3 seed for the Eastern Conference playoffs and rested Joel Embiid and J.J. Redick. Simmons played only 21 minutes, Tobias Harris shot 3 for 16 in 20 minutes and Jimmy Butler scored only four points in 16 minutes.
Butler did get one prize - he was the recipient of Wade's final postgame jersey exchange with an opponent.
''Special, to see my brother get as much love as he deserves,'' Butler said. ''He's one of the greatest to play this game and I'm so happy he gets to go out on his terms.''
Jonathon Simmons scored 14 for the 76ers, who knew they were witnessing Wade history.
''To see him be celebrated that way was the only positive of the night,'' 76ers coach Brett Brown said.
Wade scored the first basket of the game on a dunk, Philadelphia scored the next eight - and it was all Miami the rest of the way. Winslow had three 3-pointers and Wade scored six points in a 22-2 Heat run that put Miami in control early, and the outcome was never in question again.
The final minutes were all Wade. He swished a 3-pointer. He banked in a pair of them. He got slapped on his backside by a fan - in this case, it was permitted, since the fan was his wife Gabrielle Union-Wade. He scored 14 of his points in that final quarter.
It was his night.
The game was the sideshow.
The 20,153 fans came to see him.
Wade did not disappoint, one last time.
''I'm the most thankful person in this city,'' Wade said.
TIP-INS
76ers: This is the first time Philadelphia has posted consecutive seasons of 50 or more wins since 1984-85 and 1985-86. ... Philadelphia missed 17 of its first 18 tries from 3-point range.
Heat: Udonis Haslem - also a three-time Heat champion, like Wade - played most of the fourth quarter with Wade. It took Haslem less than a minute to do one of the things he does best - take a charge. ... Wade played in 575 games in a Heat uniform at home. Miami won 401 of them, and he scored 13,323 points in those contests.
McGRUDER DECISION
Miami will not be a tax team this year, saving about a $5 million payment because Rodney McGruder was claimed Tuesday by the Los Angeles Clippers - two days after he was waived by the Heat. If Miami had won at Toronto on Sunday, McGruder would likely still be with the Heat. ''That was one of the tougher franchise moves our organization has had to make,'' said Spoelstra, who raves about McGruder.
REST DAY
The 76ers plan to sit Embiid and Redick again Wednesday, and will also give Ben Simmons and Harris the night off. ''Some people like to have a rhythm going into it, some people like to have time off. I don't think you can appoint the perfect formula,'' Brown said.
UP NEXT
76ers: Host Chicago on Wednesday.
Heat: Visit Brooklyn on Wednesday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Jumpball | |||
11:45 | +2 | Dwyane Wade made dunk, assist by Kelly Olynyk | 0-2 | |
11:33 | Shooting foul on Goran Dragic | |||
11:33 | +1 | Zhaire Smith made 1st of 2 free throws | 1-2 | |
11:33 | +1 | Zhaire Smith made 2nd of 2 free throws | 2-2 | |
11:17 | Defensive rebound by Ben Simmons | |||
11:10 | +2 | Ben Simmons made layup | 4-2 | |
11:00 | Defensive rebound by Tobias Harris | |||
10:50 | +2 | Ben Simmons made layup, assist by Jonah Bolden | 6-2 | |
10:38 | Defensive rebound by Tobias Harris | |||
10:38 | Shooting foul on Kelly Olynyk | |||
10:38 | +1 | Ben Simmons made 2nd of 2 free throws | 8-2 | |
10:29 | +3 | Justise Winslow made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Goran Dragic | 8-5 | |
10:09 | Defensive rebound by Kelly Olynyk | |||
9:58 | +3 | 3-pt. jump shot | 8-8 | |
9:42 | Bad pass turnover on Ben Simmons, stolen by Kelly Olynyk | |||
9:33 | +2 | Bam Adebayo made layup, assist by Dwyane Wade | 8-10 | |
9:33 | Personal foul | |||
9:30 | Defensive rebound by Tobias Harris | |||
9:08 | Defensive rebound by Dwyane Wade | |||
9:05 | Out of bounds turnover on Dwyane Wade | |||
8:46 | Lost ball turnover on Jimmy Butler | |||
8:46 | Personal foul on Jimmy Butler | |||
8:28 | +2 | Bam Adebayo made driving dunk | 8-12 | |
8:17 | Ben Simmons missed driving layup | |||
8:10 | Defensive rebound by Kelly Olynyk | |||
8:06 | +3 | Kelly Olynyk made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Goran Dragic | 8-15 | |
7:52 | +2 | Tobias Harris made jump shot | 10-15 | |
7:40 | Bam Adebayo missed jump shot | |||
7:38 | Defensive rebound by Jimmy Butler | |||
7:26 | Jimmy Butler missed turnaround jump shot | |||
7:23 | Defensive rebound by Bam Adebayo | |||
7:10 | +2 | Dwyane Wade made reverse layup, assist by Goran Dragic | 10-17 | |
6:50 | Tobias Harris missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
6:48 | Defensive rebound by Justise Winslow | |||
6:35 | Shooting foul on T.J. McConnell | |||
6:35 | +1 | Dwyane Wade made 1st of 2 free throws | 10-18 | |
6:35 | +1 | Dwyane Wade made 2nd of 2 free throws | 10-19 | |
6:19 | Furkan Korkmaz missed jump shot | |||
6:15 | Defensive rebound by Goran Dragic | |||
6:03 | Jimmy Butler missed layup | |||
5:59 | Defensive rebound by Kelly Olynyk | |||
5:53 | Defensive rebound by Tobias Harris | |||
5:46 | Backcourt turnover on Jimmy Butler | |||
5:36 | Bam Adebayo missed jump shot | |||
5:32 | Defensive rebound by Boban Marjanovic | |||
5:04 | Tobias Harris missed alley-oop shot | |||
5:02 | Offensive rebound by Tobias Harris | |||
5:02 | Tobias Harris missed dunk | |||
5:01 | Defensive rebound by Bam Adebayo | |||
4:50 | Justise Winslow missed layup | |||
4:39 | Defensive rebound by Kelly Olynyk | |||
4:23 | +2 | Dwyane Wade made jump shot | 10-24 | |
3:57 | +2 | Boban Marjanovic made hook shot | 12-24 | |
3:38 | +2 | Furkan Korkmaz made layup | 14-24 | |
3:15 | Dion Waiters missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
3:13 | Defensive rebound by Zhaire Smith | |||
3:13 | Defensive rebound by Zhaire Smith | |||
2:54 | +2 | Boban Marjanovic made dunk | 16-24 | |
2:56 | Offensive rebound by Boban Marjanovic | |||
2:39 | +3 | Goran Dragic made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Justise Winslow | 16-27 | |
2:47 | Personal foul on Jonah Bolden | |||
2:31 | PHI team rebound | |||
2:19 | Defensive rebound by Hassan Whiteside | |||
2:09 | Defensive rebound by Zhaire Smith | |||
2:03 | Jonathon Simmons missed floating jump shot | |||
2:09 | Defensive rebound by Zhaire Smith | |||
1:57 | +3 | Dion Waiters made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by James Johnson | 16-30 | |
1:59 | Defensive rebound by James Johnson | |||
1:25 | Lost ball turnover on James Johnson, stolen by Ben Simmons | |||
1:29 | Bad pass turnover on Zhaire Smith, stolen by James Johnson | |||
1:25 | Lost ball turnover on James Johnson, stolen by Ben Simmons | |||
1:17 | Personal foul on Dion Waiters | |||
1:05 | Zhaire Smith missed jump shot | |||
1:03 | Offensive rebound by Boban Marjanovic | |||
1:01 | +2 | Boban Marjanovic made hook shot | 18-30 | |
0:44 | +2 | Hassan Whiteside made alley-oop shot, assist by James Johnson | 18-32 | |
0:36 | Jonah Bolden missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
0:34 | Defensive rebound by James Johnson | |||
0:31 | +2 | Hassan Whiteside made floating jump shot, assist by James Johnson | 18-34 |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:39 | +2 | jump shot | 22-34 | |
11:25 | Shooting foul on Zhaire Smith | |||
11:25 | MIA team rebound | |||
11:25 | +1 | Derrick Jones Jr. made 2nd of 2 free throws | 22-35 | |
11:09 | Tobias Harris missed turnaround jump shot, blocked by Hassan Whiteside | |||
11:09 | PHI team rebound | |||
11:01 | PHI team rebound | |||
10:57 | +2 | Ben Simmons made jump shot, assist by Zhaire Smith | 24-35 | |
10:30 | Dion Waiters missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
10:25 | Defensive rebound by Ben Simmons | |||
10:08 | Jonah Bolden missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
10:05 | Defensive rebound by Hassan Whiteside | |||
9:53 | +2 | Hassan Whiteside made hook shot | 24-37 | |
9:47 | +2 | Ben Simmons made jump shot | 26-37 | |
9:31 | Bad pass turnover on James Johnson, stolen by Jonathon Simmons | |||
9:28 | +2 | Jonathon Simmons made layup | 28-37 | |
9:14 | +2 | Goran Dragic made jump shot | 28-39 | |
8:50 | Tobias Harris missed floating jump shot | |||
8:47 | Defensive rebound by Derrick Jones Jr. | |||
8:34 | Out of bounds turnover on James Johnson | |||
8:21 | Tobias Harris missed jump shot | |||
8:19 | Defensive rebound by Hassan Whiteside | |||
8:06 | +2 | Hassan Whiteside made layup, assist by Goran Dragic | 28-41 | |
7:42 | Tobias Harris missed jump shot | |||
7:40 | Defensive rebound by Hassan Whiteside | |||
7:36 | Flagrant foul on Furkan Korkmaz | |||
7:36 | Hassan Whiteside missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
7:36 | MIA team rebound | |||
7:36 | +1 | Hassan Whiteside made 2nd of 2 free throws | 28-42 | |
7:25 | +2 | Dwyane Wade made driving layup | 28-44 | |
7:11 | Personal foul on Hassan Whiteside | |||
6:46 | Dwyane Wade missed floating jump shot | |||
6:42 | Dwyane Wade missed turnaround jump shot | |||
6:40 | Defensive rebound by Tobias Harris | |||
6:29 | +2 | Boban Marjanovic made dunk, assist by Tobias Harris | 32-44 | |
6:11 | +2 | Hassan Whiteside made jump shot, assist by Dion Waiters | 32-46 | |
5:51 | Tobias Harris missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
5:39 | Dwyane Wade missed jump shot | |||
5:39 | Bad pass turnover on Dwyane Wade, stolen by Boban Marjanovic | |||
5:16 | +2 | Boban Marjanovic made layup, assist by Jimmy Butler | 34-46 | |
5:16 | +2 | Boban Marjanovic made layup, assist by Jimmy Butler | 34-46 | |
4:58 | +2 | Derrick Jones Jr. made dunk, assist by Dwyane Wade | 34-48 | |
4:45 | Jimmy Butler missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
4:42 | Defensive rebound by Hassan Whiteside | |||
4:35 | +1 | Dwyane Wade made 2nd of 2 free throws | 34-50 | |
4:35 | +1 | Dwyane Wade made 2nd of 2 free throws | 34-50 | |
4:16 | Tobias Harris missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
4:09 | Ben Simmons missed turnaround jump shot, blocked by Derrick Jones Jr. | |||
4:05 | Defensive rebound by Bam Adebayo | |||
4:02 | Justise Winslow missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
4:00 | Defensive rebound by Tobias Harris | |||
3:50 | +2 | Jimmy Butler made jump shot, assist by Tobias Harris | 36-50 | |
3:29 | Dwyane Wade missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
3:27 | Defensive rebound by Boban Marjanovic | |||
3:27 | Defensive rebound by Boban Marjanovic | |||
3:25 | Full timeout called | |||
2:53 | +2 | Justise Winslow made jump shot, assist by Derrick Jones Jr. | 38-52 | |
2:47 | Personal foul on Justise Winslow | |||
2:33 | Tobias Harris missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
2:30 | Defensive rebound by Justise Winslow | |||
2:26 | Justise Winslow missed floating jump shot | |||
2:21 | Offensive rebound by Derrick Jones Jr. | |||
2:20 | Lost ball turnover on Derrick Jones Jr., stolen by Ben Simmons | |||
2:18 | Out of bounds turnover on Ben Simmons | |||
2:03 | +2 | Bam Adebayo made alley-oop shot, assist by Justise Winslow | 38-55 | |
1:49 | Defensive rebound by Justise Winslow | |||
1:49 | Personal foul on Ben Simmons | |||
1:35 | +2 | Dwyane Wade made finger-roll layup, assist by Bam Adebayo | 38-57 | |
1:06 | Bam Adebayo missed jump shot | |||
1:05 | Defensive rebound by Tobias Harris | |||
0:52 | Defensive rebound by Derrick Jones Jr. | |||
0:50 | Shooting foul on Ben Simmons | |||
0:50 | +1 | Bam Adebayo made 1st of 2 free throws | 40-58 | |
0:50 | +1 | Bam Adebayo made 2nd of 2 free throws | 40-59 | |
0:30 | +2 | Jimmy Butler made jump shot, assist by Boban Marjanovic | 42-59 | |
0:00 | PHI team rebound |