Taking A Look Back At 2008 Around The World
Oct 22, 2009 3:36 am US/Eastern
Wade Scores 35, Heat Topple Grizzlies 99-93
Arroyo, former Florida International star, scores eight points in debut
By Solange Reyner
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
-
-
MIAMI - OCTOBER 21: Carlos Arroyo #8 of the Miami Heat drives against the Memphis Grizzlies during a pre-season game on October 21, 2009 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida
Issac Baldizon/NBAE /Getty Images
Memphis coach Lionel Hollins wanted to battle test his rookies in crunch time. Heat guard Dwyane Wade took advantage.
Wade scored 35 points, Udonis Haslem added 17 and the Miami Heat came back from an 18-point deficit to beat the Memphis Grizzlies, 99-93, in a preseason game on Wednesday night.
Wade carried the Heat in the final quarter, scoring 11 points on 4 of 5 shooting. His most important basket came with 27 seconds on the clock and Miami barely holding onto a one-point lead.
That's when Wade baited Memphis rookie DeMarre Carroll on a pump-fake. Carroll was guarding too close, and Wade took a shot as he was fouled. The jumper from the left side of the key went in.
"Defensively, DeMarre learned things tonight," Memphis guard O.J. Mayo said.
"On the pump fake, he just has to try to stay down and hopefully make the man take a tough shot. It's a learning experience."
One he learned from last year's league-leading scorer.
"I had to use my veteran-ness at that moment," Wade said. "He was a young buck, so I know how it is. When you're young, you're excited. So, got him."
The Heat had to rally for this one.
The Grizzlies got off to a good start, shooting 50 percent from the field in the first quarter and climbing to a 43-25 lead with 9:42 remaining in the half.
They went cold in the third, and committed 12 turnovers in the second half.
Wade made all the difference down the stretch, though, and Memphis couldn't match up with the All-Star.
"Dwyane had two great plays. He pump faked and got the foul, then he pump faked another time with the shot clock low and got two free throws. That's what great players do," Hollins said.
"It was a great player making a great play. We didn't totally execute as good as we could have."
Miami won with former Florida International star Carlos Arroyo as its backup point guard. Arroyo made his debut in a Heat uniform on Wednesday after signing a 1-year non-guaranteed contract with Miami last week, and had eight points and four assists in 26 minutes.
While he's not guaranteed to be on the opening roster on October 28th, Arroyo certainly showed he belonged. His quickness and playmaking ability have gotten him rave reviews from teammates, and the learning curve hasn't been really steep as far as learning Miami's system.
"He's moving the ball tremendously," Wade said.
Said Spoelstra: "He competes. He gets after it. Certainly players like playing with him because the balls find them. He's been able to pick up our system…I don't feel like he really needs to catch up."
Miami was without Michael Beasley, who was sidelined with shoulder and thumb ailments.
The Heat travel to Jacksonville to play Atlanta in their final preseason game on Thursday, then relax before opening the season against the New York Knicks in their season opener in a week.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
2008 Celebrity Deaths
Click to enlarge
I-Team: Tracking The Florida Stimulus Money Trail 
Stumble It!
