Top 3 Performances HOF G Dwyane Wade & the Heat Had Against the Jazz
Soon-to-be Hall of Fame guard Dwyane Wade never took it lightly on the Utah Jazz. Throughout his 16-year NBA career, Wade earned a 17-10 combined record when facing off against the Jazz. Coming in at a win percentage over 62%, it is safe to say Wade and the Miami Heat had their way.
In honor of Wade’s incoming induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday, now felt like a time as good as ever to look back on some of the best games we saw The Flash had against the Jazz.
It’s not the prettiest sight for any Jazz fan to see by any means, but Dwyane Wade’s recent minority ownership acquisition of the franchise might allow some additional respect to be added to the former Heat legend’s name in Salt Lake City.
With that, here are three of the best performances Dwyane Wade had against the Utah Jazz during his Hall of Fame-worthy career.
3. Dwyane Wade hits miraculous buzzer-beater vs. Jazz, December 22, 2007.
Stats: 20 pts, 3 reb, 6 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk, 6-14 FG.
This might not be the most elite statistical game we ever saw DWade put up against Utah (see below), but he sure did have a major impact on the results. In an early season matchup against the Jazz, Wade ended up with a buzzer-beating game winner to take home the W, 104-102.
The classic Wade pump fake had its fair share of victims during his playing time, and this is a prime example of how dangerous it really was. Unfortunately for Deron Williams, he was the one to be on the receiving end this time. In the season following his classic 2006 NBA Finals performance, Wade just continued to deliver.
2. Rookie Dwyane Wade puts up 31 points in win vs. Jazz, February 17, 2004.
Stats: 31 pts, 4 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk, 8-13 FG, 1-3 3P.
This game was one of the many signs Wade showed early in his career that he was a future star. In his first-ever matchup against the Jazz, we saw a 31-point performance that would end as his third-highest point total of the season. During the contest, the rook even managed to post 11 straight points for the Heat in the second half.
In his first season with the Heat, Wade was a key part in Miami’s 17-win jump in the regular season, along with what would eventually be a second-round playoff exit against the Indiana Pacers. His elite showing in February against the Jazz was simply a prelude to what would soon happen throughout his elite 16-year NBA career.
1. Dwyane Wade drops 50 points, becomes Heat’s all-time scoring leader vs. Jazz, March 14, 2009.
Stats: 50 pts, 10 reb, 9 ast, 4 stl, 2 blk, 19-39 FG, 4-11 3P.
If there ever was a prime showing of what The Flash brought to the table during his NBA career, this game would be at the peak of the list. Wade not only put up his second-most career points in a game with 50 but also stamped his name into the Heat record books as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.
This game was far from just a one-dimensional showing as well. In a near triple-double, Wade also posted 10 rebounds and 9 assists in another victory over Utah, 140-129. Jazz fans may want to cover their eyes when watching the highlights of this game because things start to get ugly...fast.
Thankfully, Jazz fans no longer have to endure the terror Wade continued to bring onto the court every night. Now, Wade will be a part of any future Jazz success with his ownership stake in the franchise. Hopefully, his tenure as an owner can go half as well as his career went on the hardwood.
Dwyane Wade looks to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday, August 12th at 7 PM ET/5 PM MT on NBA TV.
Follow Inside The Jazz on Facebook and Twitter.
Subscribe on YouTube for breaking Jazz news videos and live-stream podcasts!
