Heat turn up defense, stifle Hawks in 95-79 win

[January 27, 2009]  MIAMI (AP) -- Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat were far from perfect offensively. Fortunately for them, the Atlanta Hawks were worse.

Much, much worse.

The NBA's leading scorer, Wade finished with 35 points and the Heat held the Hawks without a field goal for nearly 13 1/2 minutes during one first-half stretch, beating Atlanta 95-79 on Monday night.

Atlanta set a franchise-futility record with its 27-point first half. Still, the Hawks got within seven points early in the final quarter before a quick 11-3 burst fueled by Wade and Mario Chalmers sealed it for the Heat.

Daequan Cook scored 16 points and Chalmers added 12 points and six assists for Miami (24-19), which moved a season-best five games over .500. Udonis Haslem had a game-high 13 rebounds.

Miami had a season-high 12 blocked shots and allowed the Hawks seven assists -- the fewest by any Heat opponent this season.

Joe Johnson scored 19 points for Atlanta. Marvin Williams added 17, Josh Smith had 14 points and 10 rebounds and Flip Murray finished with 14 points for the Hawks.

One downside for Miami: Heat rookie Michael Beasley banged knees with Smith in the second quarter and didn't return.

The team called it a bruised left knee, and Miami's second-leading scorer this season spent the rest of the game on the bench with a large icepack strapped to his leg.

Williams' 3-pointer with 5:57 left in the first quarter gave the Hawks a 12-11 lead. Things went downhill from there at an incredibly rapid pace for Atlanta.

The Hawks missed their next 13 shots, plus committed 10 turnovers during the drought, during which Miami went on a 22-5 run. Williams and Murray each were 0-for-3, with both having dunk attempts blocked for good measure, and Miami's halftime lead was 46-27.

At the break, Wade was 8-for-10. Atlanta was 8-for-26, matching the fewest field goals Miami has ever allowed in a first half.

That all being said, the Hawks didn't go quietly.

Down 57-37 after Wade's jumper with 3:29 remaining in the third, Atlanta made a quick -- and somewhat surprising -- run.

Murray, who was scoreless to that point, scored 10 points in what became a 20-7 Hawks rally, and with 10:21 remaining, the Hawks were within 64-57.

But Murray forced a bad 3-pointer that missed the rim by about 3 feet with 9:36 left, and that proved to be a spark for the Heat. Miami went on an 8-2 run over the next 61 seconds -- capped by Wade blocking Smith's shot in the lane and setting up a three-point play by Chalmers at the other end -- to restore a 13-point cushion, 72-59.

Chalmers hit a 3-pointer another minute later, and the Heat eased home from there.

Notes:@ Hawks C Al Horford missed his ninth game with a bone bruise in his right knee, but is hopeful of practicing with the team Tuesday. ... Atlanta's previous first-half franchise scoring low was 28, done five times. ... Wade played in his 43rd straight game, a new career best. ... Former Heat PG Jason Williams sat courtside, sporting a gray Florida Gators sweat suit. ... The Heat started Jamaal Magloire at center, his first start since Nov. 19, 2007.

[Associated Press; By TIM REYNOLDS]

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