MIAMI. – The Miami Heat battled back from a 12-point deficit
with eight minutes to play to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 92-89 on Thursday.
Dwyane Wade scored 41 points, including a franchise record
24 in the fourth quarter, and hit a record 23 free throws. But he also set a
record for turnovers with 12.
Shaquille O’Neal, who returned to the Miami lineup before
fouling out with 16 points, heaped praise on Wade.
"He’s a great player, great unselfish player," O’Neal said.
"We’re going to ride him."
Daniel Gibson led the Cavaliers with 19 points, but it was
not a good night for LeBron James, who is still nursing a sore toe. He managed
17 points in 36 minutes but went 3-for-8 from the foul line and missed three
key free throws late in the game.
"I take full responsibility for this loss," James said.
Cleveland (26-20) fell one game behind Detroit in the
Central Division with the loss.
In the only other game, Amare Stoudemire had 24 points and
23 rebounds as the Phoenix Suns scored a 103-87 win over the San Antonio Spurs.
• Washington Wizards forward Antawn Jamison faces a
three-to-six week layoff with a sprained left knee, the Eastern Conference
leaders said on Thursday.
Jamison sustained the injury during the first quarter of
Tuesday’s win over the Detroit Pistons when he collided with a teammate, but
will not require surgery.
"I’m obviously disappointed that this happened," Jamison
said in a statement. "We have been playing very good basketball as a team to
put ourselves at the top of the Eastern Conference.
"I was really starting to get into a good groove, so it’s
frustrating that I’ll have to miss some time, but injuries are a part of the
game."
Jamison is averaging 19.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game for the Wizards,
who lead the Eastern Conference standings by a half game over the Pistons.
