Miami’s stunning fourth-quarter run of 17 unanswered points rescued them from the jaws of defeat in a 99-95 comeback victory over Phoenix on Tuesday.
Phoenix led 90-80 with seven-and-a-half minutes left, but the Heat staged a remarkable rally to turn the game on its head and give Miami their 14th straight win at American Airlines Arena.
The Suns failed to score a point for more than six minutes and the Heat took full advantage, making nine free throws during the run and grabbing a 97-90 lead once the smoke had cleared.
“It was either now or never,” Miami’s Dwyane Wade, who had 19 points, told reporters. “They were playing very well. We were down 10 and had to make a move.”
Chris Bosh scored a game-high 29 points, while LeBron James added 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists to help Miami (34-11) pull within 2.5 games of conference-leading Chicago.
Phoenix (23-23), who had ridden a four-game winning streak into playoff contention, got a team-high 19 points from Grant Hill.
Hill and James collided while chasing the ball in the final seconds of the game and Miami’s two-time MVP remained on the floor for a couple minutes before returning to his feet.
The Heat played without starter Joel Anthony, who missed the game with a sprained ankle and was replaced by Dexter Pittman.
The Suns’ Marcin Gortat scored 13 points and Steve Nash had nine and 10 assists.
“We want to make sure this is the toughest place to play in the NBA,” Bosh said. “The playoffs are approaching so we have to keep that mentality — defend our home court.”
ROCKETS 107, LAKERS 104
In Houston, Texas, Goran Dragic hit the go-ahead threee-pointer with 28 seconds left and finished with 16 points and 13 assists in Houston’s comeback victory over Los Angeles.
Down by nine with five minutes left, the Rockets had a 12-0 run to take the lead.
Luis Scola and Courtney Lee scored 23 points apiece for the Rockets. Kobe Bryant had 29 points, while Pau Gasol added 21 for the Lakers.
JAZZ 97, THUNDER 90
In Salt Lake City, Utah, Paul Millsap scored 20 points, Al Jefferson had 16 and Devin Harris added 15 to lead Utah past Oklahoma City for their fourth straight victory.
Millsap had a dunk and a fallaway jumper to help the Jazz finish the game on a 10-4 run.
Russell Westbrook had 23 points for Oklahoma City, while Kevin Durant had 18, but went scoreless in the fourth quarter and misfired on all seven attempts from the field in the period.
The Thunder have lost four of their last seven games. The NBA’s most efficient offense went six of 21 in the fourth quarter and committed 20 turnovers in the game.
BUCKS 116, TRAIL BLAZERS 87
In Portland, Oregon, Drew Gooden scored 19 points as Milwaukee beat Portland in the Trail Blazers’ first home game since coach Nate McMillan was fired last week.
Carlos Delfino had 16 points, while Monta Ellis added 14 points and nine assists to help the Bucks win their sixth straight game.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Blazers. The only other bright spot for Portland was Brandon Roy, who made his first appearance at the Rose Garden since his abrupt retirement at the start of training camp.
KINGS 119, GRIZZLIES 110
In Sacramento, California, Marcus Thornton scored 31 points, while DeMarcus Cousins had 23 points and five rebounds before fouling out as Sacramento held off Memphis for their third straight victory.
Thornton added seven rebounds and six assists, while Tyreke Evans returned after missing the last two games because of a sprained left ankle, scoring nine of his 13 points in the fourth quarter.
Rudy Gay had 23 points and six rebounds, while Marc Gasol added 15 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Grizzlies, who began a stretch of nine of 11 games away from home. Memphis has three of its last four.
In other NBA play, it was:
‧ Pacers 102, Clippers 89
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