Dwyane Wade: “I’m Gonna Mark This Day In My Calendar”

What a magnificent moment at the American Airlines Arena tonight. Dwyane Wade scored a buzzer-beating three, to give his Heat a win over the reigning NBA champions, the Golden State Warriors.

“I’m gonna mark this day in my calendar,” said Wade, smiling while giving the on-court interview after the game.

Exactly one year ago he made a game-winner in Philadelphia against the 76ers, and it seems that he likes playing on the 27th of February.

Kevin Durant scored only one free throw, and his Warriors had a 125-123 lead before with some 13 seconds to go. Wade had the ball, and tried to penetrate, but he was well guarded.

After that, Flash passed to Dion Waiters who couldn’t find a good position to shot, and the ball was again in Wade’s hands. Jordan Bell rejected his first three-point attempt, but the second one, which was off one leg, went off the glass and straight through the rim.

The shot was extremely tough, and Wade recalled how Kobe Bryant hit his game-winner over him back in 2009.

“I wondered how Kobe hit that game-winner on me in LA when he hit it on the top; he hit it off the glass from the top of the key. I said ‘how’ that possible?’ Thank you for showing me the way, Mamba mentality.” said Wade with a big smile on his face.

.@DwyaneWade thanks @kobebryant for the 'Mamba Mentality' after his game-winner over the Warriors tonight. 🐍#HeatCulture pic.twitter.com/kwq4MhocvD

— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 28, 2019

The hosts were leading 24 points twice during the second quarter. At the time, it looked like an easy win for the Heat, who were in control of the things on the court. But the champs wouldn’t be champs if it weren’t for their quality.

They started to grind their way back in the game, and slowly, Heat’s advantage began to melt. With 5:08 to go, and following KD’s two, the result was leveled at 109 each. Soon enough the Warriors take command, but the hosts weren’t giving up.

Only 18.1 seconds before the end of the game, GSW had a four-point advantage, 124-120, but Wade hit from deep to cut it to one point.

Durant missed that one free throw and everything else is history.

“I knew it was going in as soon as it left his hand,” Steve Kerr told the reporters after the game.

Steph Curry was disappointed because of the defeat, but he did admit, that it is easier for him to lose in this way, with Wade’s game-winner than with someone else’s.

“I’d much rather see him jumping on the scorer’s table when we’re not on the court with him,” said Curry. “But those are iconic moments that he’s had. Deep down it was cool to see even though we lost.”

Steph posted 24 points with 6 boards and 4 assists. He wasn’t particularly in the mood for shooting tonight, hitting only 9 of his 20 shots. Klay Thomspon, on the other hand, was, dropping 36 points, making 7 threes in 15 attempts.

Kevin Durant had 29, also with bad percentages from the field, 3 of 12 for three, 9 of 21 overall.

The Heat killed the champs off the bench. Wade finished the night with 25 points, 7 rebounds, making 5 of his 8 downtown tries. Goran Dragic is slowly entering his old shape, and the veteran guard ended the night scoring a team-high 27 buckets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tZypSKOJZk

From the starters, Josh Richardson had a nice night with 21 points, 5 of 7 for three. Miami outrebounded the guests, 48-37.

The Heat lost 9 of their 11 matches before this one. Wade spoke about the current situation and adversities the team has been dealing with in recent times. According to his words, Miami is playing good basketball, they have some problems here and there but in general, they are good, and have the potential to get over the current difficulties and record good results.

“We’re not playing bad basketball, we’re doing a few things wrong we need to clean up. If we clean those things up, we can come on out on the end.” Heat No.3 explained.

Right now, despite all those losses, the Heat are just half a game behind the Charlotte Hornets who are occupying the 8th place in the East. Pistons are up two games, and this leaves the door open for Miami to make a push which could lead them through that door.

They are playing their next game in Houston against the Rockets.

Warriors stay in Florida and move on to Orlando.