Wade stars as Heat silence Thunder, Nuggets end eight-game losing streak
Dwyane Wade performed when it mattered most as the Miami Heat edged the Oklahoma City Thunder 97-95 in the NBA on Thursday.
Wade made a pair of free throws with 1.5 seconds remaining to lift the Heat past the Thunder in a game featuring 38 lead changes and 11 ties.
The three-time NBA champion finished with 28 points as the Thunder crashed to back-to-back defeats.
“Like a play-off atmosphere,” Wade said. “For our young team, that hasn’t been in many of these kind of games, it was great.”
Heat pair Chris Bosh (16) and Goran Dragic (14) combined for 30 points.
The Thunder were led by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, who posted 25 points apiece in the road loss.
In Toronto, the Denver Nuggets snapped an eight-game losing streak thanks to a 106-105 win over the Raptors.
Will Barton scored 22 points off the bench and Danilo Gallinari added 21 of his own as the Nuggets returned to winning ways.
DeMar DeRozan had a season-high 34 points for the Raptors.
The San Antonio Spurs and Portland Trail Blazers were also victorious.
Kawhi Leonard starred with 27 points to lead the Spurs to a 103-83 win at the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Trail Blazers saw off the Indiana Pacers 123-111 thanks to Damian Lillard C.J. McCollum.
Elsewhere, the Orlando Magic extended their winning streak to five games courtesy of a 103-94 victory over the Utah Jazz.
The Boston Celtics trumped the Sacramento Kings 114-97.
