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Sports See other Sports Articles Title: Wade’s Hot Hand Helps Heat Steal Home-Court Advantage (Miami 91 Detroit 86 game 1) Wade’s Hot Hand Helps Heat Steal Home-Court Advantage AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (Ticker) -- Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat are off to a healthy start in the Eastern Conference Finals. Wade played through foul trouble to score 25 points as the rested Heat posted a 91-86 victory over the Detroit Pistons in the opener of the conference finals. NBA TV highlights from Heat-Pistons: Play Antoine Walker scored 17 points and Shaquille O'Neal 14 for the second-seeded Heat, who stole home-court advantage from the Pistons by taking control of the contest late in the third quarter. Wade was a major reason why the Heat quickly gained the upper hand against the NBA's best team during the regular season as he made 9-of-11 shots while playing just 27 minutes due to foul trouble. In last season's Conference Finals against the Pistons, the Heat squandered a 3-2 series lead. However, Wade missed Game 6 with a rib injury and O'Neal played the series with a thigh injury. But with a week of rest after disposing of New Jersey in five games in the Conference Semifinals, the Heat came out sharp, scoring the game's first 11 points and never trailing in the first half. Things looked like they were unraveling when Wade went to the bench with his fourth foul at the 7:14 mark of the third quarter with the game tied at 54-54. Chauncey Billups converted a driving a layup, Tayshaun Prince made two free throws and Rasheed Wallace drained a jumper to give the Pistons their biggest lead, 60-55, with 4:18 left in the third. However, the Heat tightened their defense and used an 11-1 surge to close the quarter with Wade on the bench to take the lead for good. Detroit missed its final nine shots of the period. Veteran Gary Payton, who scored 14 points, drilled a jumper and Walker and James Posey each hit 3-pointers in the Heat's burst to close the period. Another of the Heat's many veterans, Alonzo Mourning had two baskets and a key block that provided a 75-65 advantage with 6:31 remaining. Wade then helped put the game out of reach, hitting a jumper and three free throws for an 80-67 cushion 4:44 to play. In the first quarter, Wade also led a surge, making his first six shots and scoring 13 points in the quarter that ended with Miami holding a 33-25 lead. The Heat shot 75 percent (15-of-20) in the period. Hamilton scored 22 points, Billups 19 and Prince 16 for the Pistons, who struggled most of the way offensively as they shot just 38 percent (31-of-82). Detroit hosts Game 2 on Thursday.
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#1. To: All (#0)
what's wrong with Detroit? They were so strong at the beginning of season, nobody could beat them. but they don't look that way now.
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