Video: Heat's Chris Bosh hits last-second three-pointer to beat Blazers
http://youtu.be/g9VLUf4a8C4
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Chris Bosh hit a three-pointer with 0.5 seconds remaining to lift the Heat past the Blazers 108-107 in Portland on Saturday.
With seven seconds remaining and the Blazers leading 107-105, Dwyane Wade turned the corner at the top of the key going to his right. Nicolas Batum shadowed Wade on the drive, and LaMarcus Aldridge dropped into the paint to contest a possible runner, too. Instead of shooting, Wade flipped a behind the back pass to Bosh, who was wide open at the top of the arc with less than four seconds remaining.
Gathering the pass, Bosh launched from two steps behind the three-point line as Damian Lillard and Mo Williams rushed at him. The shot swished home with 0.5 seconds remaining, and the Blazers were unable to get a basket on the other end, when a lob play to Aldridge failed to produce a game-winner.
"In that situation, I wanted to go for the win," Bosh said. "It's just how I felt at the moment, so we changed it to where Dwyane had an opportunity downhill and if he got double-teamed, I was behind him for the jumper.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra gave Bosh credit for the play's design and its result, which marked his third three-pointer on three attempts.
"My call at the end of the game was much more conservative," Spoelstra said. "I drew something up to get him on the move, and he said, 'No, I want it for the three.' So he overruled it and it became a profit. He already had two threes, he was feeling it, he wanted it. And as soon as he said it, I said, 'Yeah, that makes sense.' It was much better than what I had planned."
Bosh finished with a game-high 37 points (on 15-for-26 shooting) and 10 rebounds for the Heat, who were playing without LeBron James for the first time this season because of a groin strain.
"I can have a bigger brush," Bosh said, when asked about taking the lead role in James' absence. "[James] lays a big canvas out there, so it was a lot of space I was working with."
The 37 points marked a season-high for Bosh, and it was his highest point total since he scored 40 points against the Nuggets on Nov. 3, 2012.
"He played a terrific game and they needed him to," Blazers coach Terry Stotts said. "They've got guys who have won championships together and Chris Bosh has been an All-Star and he has carried a team to the playoffs by himself, so he's certainly capable of doing that."
Wade added 16 points (on 8-for-19 shooting) and seven assists for Miami, which improved to 23-7 with the win.
Wesley Matthews led the Blazers with 23 points (on 9-for-14 shooting) and three rebounds. Aldridge added 22 points (on 9-for-20 shooting), seven rebounds and four assists. Portland fell to 24-6 with the loss.