Kicking the Nets in the Balls

When the Miami Heat faced off against the New Jersey Nets two weeks ago, Dwyane Wade matched a season high by pouring in 43 points on Dirty Jersey. The game featured three of the NBA’s top 10-point scorers in Wade and the Nets’ Devin Harris and Vince Carter. While going head-to-head with the red-hot Harris as well as All-Star Carter, Wade dropped 12 of Miami’s final 14 points and went over 40 points for the 15th time in his career. Both Harris and Carter put in 21 points for New Jersey, but it was Wade’s reverse layup with under two minutes left to play that put Miami ahead for the 106-103 win. The Nets threw everything at Wade, including double and triple teams. But D-Wade was simply unstoppable. In the 16 times he has faced New Jersey, including the playoff sweep of the Nets in 2005, Wade has averaged 23.3 points against them. It just suits him to play against the Nets. This Saturday, New Jersey comes in for another beatdown as it faces the Heat at the American Airlines Arena.
Sat., Jan. 3, 7:30 p.m., 2009