Miami Heat Index: Despite Wade’s Play, Heat Give Up Ground to Celtics

Mar 9, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard

(3) reacts in the second half of a game against the Boston Celtics at American Airlines Arena. The Celtics won 100-90. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

Despite 34 points from Dwyane Wade, the short handed Miami Heat couldn’t come up with a win against the Boston Celtics.

More so than a possible reality setting in that Hassan Whiteside may never mature, or that this team can’t win despite 34 points from Dwyane Wade, or that Michael Beasley has become, in some ways, the anchor of the defense, what stings the most is that the Boston Celtics are gaining ground on the Miami Heat in the playoff race.

Despite 34 points from Wade, the Heat (28-35) lost to the Celtics 100-90 and are now just a game-and-a-half up on Boston (26-36) for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference standings.

That’s right, a team many thought would be higher in the power tankings than the power rankings may just boot the defending Eastern Conference Champions out of the eight seed.

After yet another slow start to a game, the Heat were forced to come back from 11 points down, closing the gap multiple times and even taking a lead in the third quarter before relinquishing a 19-5 Celtics run to finish the quarter.

The Heat got it close one more time thanks to Wade’s ability to get to the line, bringing it to 93-87 before Boston pulled away in the final three minutes.

Despite a vintage game from Wade, the rest of the Heat couldn’t get their shit together. Hassan Whiteside, once again, lost his temper and cross checked Kelly Olynyk and was ejected.

Wade was simply incredible. His acrobatic moves in air and ability to get to the line (23 free throws in the game) was like looking into a

Pensieve

and seeing a D-Wade from five years ago.

The Celtics were led by Isaiah Thomas, who scored 25 points off the bench. A game after scoring a career-high 10 points, Luigi Datome set a new career-high with 13 points. Brandon Bass added 14 points and nine rebounds.

Check out the post-game grades and Heat Index, categorizing every player from “cold” to “white hot.”

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