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Heat roll past Clippers, 119-95

Tuesday, February 3, 2009 , Posted by Linda at 11:01 AM

MIAMI – Dwyane Wade had 32 points and nine assists, Michael Beasley added 18 points and the Miami Heat snapped a two-game losing skid by beating the Los Angeles Clippers 119-95 on Monday night.

Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade, right, looks for an open teammate as he is guarded Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade, right, looks for an open teammate as he is guarded by Los Angeles Clippers

Mario Chalmers scored 15 points, Udonis Haslem added 13 and Shawn Marion — in his first game back after missing five straight with a strained left groin — finished with 11 points and seven rebounds for the Heat, who improved to 15-3 when scoring more than 100 points this season.

Zach Randolph, back after missing 19 games with a sore left knee, scored 21 points for the Clippers, who've lost six straight and 20 of 22. Marcus Camby and Eric Gordon each added 12 for the Clippers, who had beaten Miami by a single point in each of their last two meetings.

But Miami controlled this one nearly start to finish, never trailing by more than three points in the early going and holding the lead for the game's final 33:33.

It was the most points Miami scored at home since beating Utah 121-83 on March 14, 2006.

Although the Clippers are tied with Washington for the league's worst record — both teams are now 10-38 — this game had significance for Miami.

The Heat were coming off losses to Indiana and Dallas. And with a road trip to Eastern Conference rivals Detroit and Philadelphia starting Wednesday, it's not the ideal time for a midseason swoon, particularly with five teams already jostling for the No. 4 playoff seed.

So Wade and Chalmers went to work early, setting the tone. They combined for 16 points in the first quarter as Miami built a six-point lead, and the Heat — buoyed by 56 percent shooting in the half and a 10-point second quarter from Beasley — eased into the break with a 58-47 edge.

It got dicey, though, late in the third.

The Clippers held Miami to only two field goals in a four-minute span, and suddenly found themselves down just 77-70 with 3:08 left in the quarter after a pair of free throws from Baron Davis.

Right on cue, Wade took over, leading a 13-3 run that ended the quarter.

He hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored nine points in all during the spurt, and after Haslem hit a jumper with two seconds left, the Heat carried a 90-73 lead into the fourth.

Miami (26-21) moved into fifth in the East standings Monday, one game behind No. 4 Atlanta, a half-game ahead of the idle Pistons and now 2 1/2 games clear of the 76ers, who host Boston on Tuesday.

Notes:@ It was stat night for the Heat. Wade got his 500th career dunk in the second quarter, became the franchise's all-time leader in free throws made, and moved into second place on the Heat all-time field-goals-attempted list. C Jamaal Magloire grabbed his 4,000th rebound as well. ... Rapper Lil' Wayne was in attendance. ... The Clippers expect C Chris Kaman back after the All-Star break. Kaman, who resuming a shooting regimen, has battled a foot injury much of the season.

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