Miami Heat Take Care Of Business Against New Jersey Nets - Sunshine Slate

[Newark, NJ] Coming off of a dramatic, triple-overtime game against the Atlanta Hawks â€" without superstars Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, no less â€" the Miami Heat were ready to take it easier, and cruise to a blow-out against the 2-6 New Jersey Nets at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. on Saturday.

Wade sat out once again, still nursing that left foot injury. But James and the rest of the boys were ready to play.

In the first quarter, James took over the game making 8 out of 9 shots and scoring 22 points. The rest of the team only scored 9 points. Miami ended the quarter up by 13. At the end of the first, the score was Heat 31, Nets 18.

The rest of the Heat squad took over in the second. Mario Chalmers, Shane Battier and James Jones scored most of the points for Miami in the quarter. Miami ended up outscoring New Jersey 26 to 17 in the second quarter.

At halftime, the score was Heat 57, Nets 35.

But things began to unravel for the Miami Heat in the beginning of the third quarter. The Nets went on a 19-5 run and cut the lead down from 22 to 10. But, Miami came back and put an end to the run towards the end of the quarter. At the end of the quarter number three, the score was Heat 78, Nets 64.

In the fourth, the Heat tried to glide through the finish keeping New Jersey at arm’s length with a 10-point plus cushion. But the pesky Nets had other ideas, namely a comeback. But with just over 2 minutes to go, New Jersey cut the lead to 9.

However, the superior Heat put out that particular fire, stopping the Nets before anything could really get started.

Final score: Miami Heat 101, New Jersey Nets 90.

James on his injury and his decision to play: “If I feel like I’m good to go, then I’m going to go out and play my game. I’m not going to give no restriction, just trying to do the things I do on the court: get a couple breakaways, get some easy points, get to the free throw line.”

The 8-1 Heat are now on a three-game winning streak. Their next game is on Tuesday at Golden State.

By: Michael Tristani II/Sunshine Slate

Image: Miami Heat/Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images