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Wade saves game for Miami Heat

Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade prepares to shoot against the Indiana Pacers in Miami on Thursday. PHOTO: AP

Dwyane Wade scored 33 points, including a game-saving layup with 4.3 seconds left, as the Miami Heat wasted most of a big lead before beating the short-handed Indiana Pacers 104-101 on Thursday night.

Jason Williams added 20 points and eight assists for the Heat, who led 91-75 with 8:05 left before the Pacers -- who had only 10 players in uniform -- got within two by going on a 23-9 run.

But Wade hit a pair of free throws with 24.5 seconds left, then drove the length of the court for the winning score.

Danny Granger had a career-high 28 points on 9-of-15 shooting for Indiana, but came up short on a potential, game-tying 3-point try as the final buzzer sounded.

The Heat were playing without Shaquille O'Neal for the 32nd straight game while he continues his recovery from knee surgery. He was not scheduled to play in Philadelphia yesterday, either, but his return is expected soon.

Marquis Daniels had a season-high 23 points for the Pacers.

Mavericks 114, Lakers 95

At Dallas, Josh Howard scored 29 points and Dirk Nowitzki had 27 as Dallas avenged its only loss over the past six weeks with a victory over Los Angeles.

Dallas has won 19 of 20 games and six in a row since a 101-98 loss in Los Angeles on Jan. 7 that ended a 13-game winning streak.

After the Mavericks started 0-4 for the first time in team history, the defending Western Conference champions reached the midpoint of the regular season with the NBA's best record (33-8).

Jason Terry had a season-high 13 assists, with one early in the second quarter coming when he missed underneath, got his own rebound and swiped the ball in one motion to Nowitzki at the top of the key for a 3-pointer. That basket put the Mavs up 32-30 and they never trailed again.

Kobe Bryant had 26 points for the Lakers, whose three-game winning streak included a 100-96 victory at San Antonio on Wednesday night. Even though Bryant scored 13 points in the third quarter, that was when Dallas took control.

Howard and Nowitzki led six players in double-figure scoring for Dallas, which got 14 from Devean George, 12 from Terry and 11 each from Jerry Stackhouse and Buckner.
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