The pregame ceremony honored LeBron James, but it was Chris Bosh who stole the show with 40 points and Ray Allen’s go ahead three that propelled the Miami Heat to a 119-116 bounce back victory against the visiting Denver Nuggets.
Recording the first ever triple double in Olympic history and leading the USA to a gold medal victory over Spain in London, James was honored before the game with his name solely on a banner, as the fourth Heat player to win Olympic gold for Team USA.
“I was happy being a part of it and playing a big role in winning gold for my country,” James said.
Trailing 116-115 with 14 seconds left, James drove left and was double teamed, forcing a pass to Ray Allen in the corner nailing a three and was fouled on the play. Down by three points after the made free throw, Danilo Gallinari who struggled making only 1-of-9 from deep, heaved up a shot to tie but missed. Allen, who finished with 23 points and shot 6-of-10 from three point range, has made a career of sinking late game clutch shots from deep.
“LeBron made a great pass and (Allen) is the most dangerous shooter in the league,” Bosh said. “I’m just glad he’s on our team.”
James was one rebound shy of a triple double finishing with 20 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds. But this night belonged to Bosh and his 10th 40 point game, and first as a member of the Heat.
The Nuggets, coached by George Karl, play hard on both ends of the court and unselfishly move the ball around on offense to set up an open teammate. Off of the bench, Nuggets’ center JaVale McGee, a true 7-foot center, had 11 points and five rebounds in his first seven minutes, finishing with 16 total. McGee’s success against the undersized Chris Bosh is another instance exposing Miami’s lack of interior defense, giving up 100 points or more in each of the first three games. Kenneth Faried, known as the “Manimal” led Denver down low with 22 points and 12 rebounds, seven of them being offensive leading to second chance points.
“In the second half we made more plays and made sure we got back on defense,” Allen said. “But our defense has to improve and it will.”
With the intensity on defense lacking, Spoelstra made a lineup change at the four minute mark of the second quarter that propelled the Heat into halftime. Joel Anthony, who is known for his interior post defense and use of his girth to set excellent picks on perimeter defenders, checked in for the first time all year. With Bosh at the power forward and Anthony at center, the more conventional lineup in Miami cut the Denver lead to 66-64 at halftime despite being outscored 42-18 points in the paint.
“We have to get on the boards, and we are not protecting the basket,” Heat assistant Coach Bob McAdoo said at halftime. “That’s why we put in Joel to defend the paint better.”
Over the summer, Denver became the fourth team in the trade that brought Dwight Howard to city of angels. Denver sent Aaron Afflalo and forward Al Harrington to Orlando and in return, acquired veteran forward Andre Igoudala. Igoudala made the East All-Star roster last year and was the Philadelphia 76ers leading scorer, helping to eliminate the Chicago Bulls from the playoffs last season. Igoudala scored 22 points in this back-and-forth battle that had four lead changes in the final three minutes with both teams determined to prevail.
Ty Lawson, who signed a 4-year 48 million contract extension with the Nuggets earlier this week, had 14 points and six assists, while on defense, held Mario Chalmers to only nine points. The Heat improved to 2-1 to open the season and the Nuggets are now winless at 0-3. Miami will have the day off Sunday before hosting the Suns on Monday for their third game in four days.
Denver finished with a dominant 72 points in the paint compared to Miami’s 40, but with James facilitating to open shooters, Allen having 12 fourth quarter points, and the monster game from Bosh, Miami’s firepower overcame.
“Good teams find a way to win and we haven’t been playing our best basketball,” Bosh said. “We have to make a better effort but I’m glad we got out of here with a win tonight.”