Jazz play tune as Millsap cools Heat
0 
Paul Millsap scored a career-high 46 points and led the Utah Jazz to a stunning 116-114 comeback overtime victory over the Miami Heat that spoiled a big night for LeBron James and Dwyane Wade on Tuesday.
The Jazz, who overcame a 22-point deficit, forced overtime with Millsap's putback at the buzzer en route to handing the Heat (5-3) their first home loss of the season.
Utah's win overshadowed a 39-point night from Dwyane Wade and a triple-double from LeBron James, who had 20 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds.
"It's a lesson hopefully we'll learn, that when you have an opportunity to keep grinding and close teams out you have to take advantage," Miami coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters.
"It's not about the end. We had an opportunity to take control and weren't able to do it."
Elsewhere in the National Basketball Association, it was: Pacers 144, Nuggets 113; Cavaliers 93, Nets 91; Bucks 107, Knicks 80; Hornets 101, Clippers 82; Trail Blazers 100, Pistons 78; and Lakers 99, Timberwolves 94.
The Heat were 21 points ahead in the second half and led by eight with less than a minute to play before Millsap drained three straight three-pointers to pull the visitors close.
At the end of a back-and-forth OT session, Francisco Elson was fouled with less than a second to play and converted both free throws to clinch a fourth win in five games for Utah (4-3).
Fouling out
Deron Williams had 21 points and 14 assists before fouling out in the fourth while Chris Bosh put up 17 points and nine rebounds for the Heat.
The Heat missed five shots in the final two minutes of OT that either would have tied the game or given them the lead, including Eddie House's desperation jumper at the buzzer.
Miami went into the contest as one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, holding each of its opponent to under 100 points, but it surrendered 72 points to Utah in the final two quarters of regulation.
Millsap's 46 were by far the most by any player to face Miami this season - and a big turnaround for a player who previously averaged just 6.9 points in eight games against Miami.
In Indianapolis, Indiana came close to a perfect shooting record in the third quarter as it racked up a huge score against Denver.
The Pacers made their first 20 shots of the third quarter, coming within 1.9 seconds of a perfect period when Josh McRoberts missed a three-point attempt.
Mike Dunleavy scored 24 of his 31 points in the Pacers' 54-point period. Indiana, which shot 64 percent overall, led 113-76 at the end of the third quarter. Darren Collison scored 29 points for the Pacers, who set league season-highs for points, and field goals made.
Ty Lawson led Denver with 19 points.
Go to Forum >>0 Comments