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 Joe Johnson added 19 points and Paul Pierce scored 14 for the
Nets, who pulled within two games of idle Toronto for first place in
the Atlantic Division. Mirza Teletovic scored 11 points and Mason
Plumlee scored the last two of his eight points with 41 seconds left
to provide some cushion as Brooklyn became the first team to sweep a
four-game set from the Heat in the “Big Three” era.
LeBron James collected 29 points, 10 rebounds and six assists but
had a potential game-winning shot blocked by Plumlee in the final
second as Miami slipped to a half-game ahead of Indiana for first
place in the Eastern Conference. Chris Bosh added 12 points and
Norris Cole scored 10 for the Heat.
The Nets grabbed a 75-74 lead on Thornton’s 3-pointer with 5:58 left
but James responded with a go-ahead jumper and Rashard Lewis stole
the ball from Pierce and took it back for a layup on the ensuing
possession to make it a three-point gap. Thornton struck again with
his third 3-pointer of the quarter to put Brooklyn in front 84-82
with 1:40 to play and Johnson scored to make it a four-point lead
before James made things tight in the final minute.
Brooklyn came out strong and held a 12-point lead at the end of the
first quarter before the Heat recovered and cut it to 44-43 at the
half. Toney Douglas hit a pair of 3-pointers during a 9-0 burst that
put Miami on top in the third quarter and James scored the final
four points of the period to send the Heat into the fourth up 65-62.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Brooklyn G Deron Williams has recorded at least one
steal in 27 straight games — a franchise record since the Nets
joined the NBA. … Miami G Dwyane Wade (hamstring) sat out his
seventh straight game. … Brooklyn F Kevin Garnett (back), returned
from a 19-game absence on Sunday but sat out against the Heat and is
expected to play on the second night of the back-to-back at Orlando
on Wednesday.
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