Dwyane Wade led five Heat players in double-
figured scoring with 22 points, as Miami earned a 96-88 win over the Denver
Nuggets at American Airlines Arena.
Jermaine O'Neal added 18 points and seven rebounds, while Mario Chalmers
netted 16 points for Miami, which moved to 5-1 for just the third time in its
22-season history. Quentin Richardson finished with 13 points and nine boards,
and Udonis Haslem had 11 points to go along with 10 rebounds off the Miami
bench.
Carmelo Anthony led all scorers with 30 points and Arron Afflalo donated 18 in
a reserve role for the Nuggets, who suffered their first setback of the season
after winning five in a row. Denver was bidding for its first 6-0 start since
the 1985-86 campaign. Ty Lawson and Nene each went for 11 points.
The Heat held a slim 23-21 advantage after the opening quarter, then Afflalo
tied things at 33 near the midway point of the second. Miami, however, would
close the period on a strong note.
O'Neal's jumper started a 17-5 run and Chalmers finished the surge after
hitting from three-point distance late in the period to give the Heat a 50-38
lead heading into the intermission.
A Wade jumper, Chalmers' three and O'Neal's bucket to begin the third quickly
put Miami up by 19 at 57-38 and the hosts would increase their advantage to
78-56 after three periods.
Denver would only get as close as eight points late in the fourth quarter as
Miami earned the 96-88 win.
Game Notes
Denver won both matchups with Miami a year ago and was unbeaten in eight
contests in this series coming in...Despite the loss, the Nuggets have won
nine of 11 with the Heat. Miami snapped a four-game home losing skid versus
Denver.
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