NEW YORK, 18 May 2006 — Dwyane Wade recovered from a slow start to score 21 points and make a vital late steal in leading the Miami Heat into the Eastern Conference finals with a 106-105 home victory over the New Jersey Nets on Tuesday.
Wade raised his level of play after shooting a disappointing 1-for-9 in the first half and ensured Miami took the best-of-seven series by a 4-1 margin when he stole Jason Kidd’s inbound pass with 1.4 seconds remaining to end the game.
In the day’s other playoff game, Shawn Marion had 36 points and 20 rebounds to help the Phoenix Suns edge the Los Angeles Clippers 125-118 in double overtime to take a 3-2 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series.
After his steal, Wade knocked the ball into the stands as time expired and the sell-out crowd in Miami celebrated.
The Heat have now reached the conference finals for the second straight year and they await the winner of the Detroit Pistons-Cleveland Cavaliers series, which is tied at 2-2.
“I found a way to help my teammates win and get this game and that’s what it’s all about,” Wade told reporters after the game.
“We reconstructed our whole team and we got back to where we were last year, but we’re not satisfied. We’re waiting for the next team to come and we have to be prepared.” The Heat rallied from a 12-point deficit to register the biggest comeback victory in the franchise’s playoff history, as Antoine Walker led the scoring with 23 points.
“It was just great that we could finish it,” Miami coach Pat Riley told reporters. “I knew it would be the hardest close-out.”
Shaquille O’Neal had 17 points for the Heat despite playing just 25 minutes after he got into early foul trouble, while Jason Williams was one of six Miami players to reach double figures in scoring with 12 points.
Udonis Haslem hauled down 10 rebounds for the Heat and also scored eight points.
Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter were both brilliant for the Nets, each scoring 33 points, as New Jersey came out playing like a team desperate to keep their season alive.
New Jersey coach Lawrence Frank blamed himself for his team’s loss, especially for the failure of the last second inbound pass.
The Nets scored 33 points in the first quarter to lead by nine, but they lost that advantage in the second quarter and the teams were tied 54-54 at halftime.
Miami led for most of the second half, but the Nets stayed close throughout to set up the dramatic final few seconds. Kidd added 20 points, eight assists and six rebounds for the Nets, who also got 14 points from Lamond Murray.
In Phoenix, the Clippers trailed by 19 points in the third quarter and rallied to tie the game 101-101 with 39 seconds left in regulation, setting the stage for overtime.
Phoenix’s Raja Bell then nailed a three-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining of the first extra period to tie the contest at 111-111.
Game Six of the best-of-seven series will be played in Los Angeles today. Tim Thomas had 25 points for the Suns, while Bell had 22 points and Steve Nash added 17 points and 13 assists. Elton Brand had 33 points and 15 rebounds for the Clippers, while Sam Cassell added 32.
