(Sports Network) - Dwyane Wade poured in a game-high 30 points and James Jones buried six three-pointers en route to 20 points as Miami spoiled Philadelphia’s season opener with a 97-87 victory at the Wells Fargo Center.
Heat Vs. 76ers: Dwyane Wade Leads Way With 30 Points In Miami’s First Victory After Shaky Debut
Wade made of 10-of-20 from the floor and went 9-of-12 from the line while grabbing seven rebounds, handing out four assists and blocking two shots for the Heat, who rebounded from a nine-point loss to Boston in their season opener on Tuesday to even their record.
LeBron James totaled 16 points, six rebounds and seven assists and Chris Bosh, the other member of the “Big Three,” contributed 15 points and seven boards for the victors.
Rookie Evan Turner, the second overall pick in this year’s draft, scored 16 points off the bench to lead the way for the Sixers, who have dropped five straight to Miami dating back to the start of last season.
Lou Williams and Thaddeus Young scored 15 points apiece in defeat during head coach Doug Collins’ Philadelphia debut.
Leading 49-41 at the break, Miami got back-to-back dunks from Wade and a layup from Carlos Arroyo to push their lead to 57-43 just over two minutes into the third quarter.
Two three-pointers by James and another by House on three straight possessions extended the Heat lead to 76-51 with 1 1/2 minutes to go in the period before they took an 80-54 lead, their biggest of the night, into the final stanza.
Philadelphia ran off the first nine points of the fourth quarter before two Wade free throws pushed the lead back to 19. The Sixers did draw as close as eight on an Andres Nocioni three-pointer with just over a minute to play but a Wade driving layup with 30 seconds left sewed up the win.
The Sixers shot just 7-for-23 from the floor in the first quarter but were only trailing 18-15 after the first 12 minutes.
Turner scored his first NBA bucket on a put back and the subsequent foul shot to complete a three-point play tied the game at 23 just with just under 10 minutes left in the first half.
Young completed a three-point play to give the Sixers their only lead of the night, 26-24, less than a minute later but the Heat ran off the next 10 points, capped by a Jones’ three-ball. James third three-ball of the quarter pushed the visitors lead to 40-28 with 5 1/2 minutes left before the break.
James was 5-of-12 from the floor and committed nine turnovers...Bosh made half of his dozen shots from the field...Jones drained 6-of-9 from beyond the arc. Turner knocked down 7-of-10 shots, grabbed seven rebounds and had four assists...Andre Iguodala scored 10 points, hauled seven boards and handed out five assists while Elton Brand contributed 12 points and nine rebounds in the loss...The Sixers have scored less than 100 points in eight of their last nine games against the Heat...Philadelphia still leads the all-time series, 50-38, and has won 31 of 45 home dates with Miami...Philadelphia’s other professional teams were well represented at the game. Flyers captain Mike Richards along with wingers Ville Leino and James Van Riemsdyk took in the action, as did Eagles running back LeSean McCoy, Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins and longtime middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins.
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