Nets keep Heat from clinching playoff berth
The Brooklyn Nets used a strong second half to get the game to overtime and then beat Miami 110-109 to prevent the Heat from clinching a playoff berth at AmericanAirlines Arena on Saturday.
Dwyane Wade's potential game-winning layup rolled off the rim in the final seconds of overtime to give the Nets their third win in four games against Miami this season.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson scored 20 points and had 14 rebounds for Brooklyn. Caris LeVert had 19 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. Joe Harris and Quincy Acy each had 13.
The Nets earned their second straight road win for the second time this season and improved to 12-6 against the Southeast Division.
Goran Dragic and James Johnson each had 18 points for the Heat. Kelly Olynyk scored 16.
Wade and Josh Richardson had 13 apiece. Hassan Whiteside scored 14 and Justise Winslow had 11.
The loss snapped the Heat's nine-game home winning streak.
Miami's 112 points per game in March set the franchise record for most points averaged in a month.
Miami slipped to the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, ½ game behind Milwaukee.
The loss against Brooklyn was the Heat's second game in a stretch of five contests that will have them playing four teams with losing records -- Atlanta twice -- giving them an opportunity to climb in the playoff standings.
Dragic's hot hand early helped the Heat go on a 17-5 run and jump out to a 14-point lead as Miami made six of nine three-pointers.
The left-hander finished the first quarter with 10 points and Olynyk added eight as the Heat led 32-22 after one.
Miami closed the second quarter with an 8-2 run to lead 55-48 after Brooklyn trimmed it to 47-46 with 2:12 left in the first half.
The Nets took their first lead since early in the first quarter on a 10-2 run in the third and held an 80-76 lead after outscoring Miami 32-21.
Miami rallied from a nine-point deficit with 7:15 remaining to force overtime.
--Field Level Media
