Nets 111, Heat 105
MIAMI – The Brooklyn Nets, who have the third-worst record in the NBA, knocked off the Miami Heat 111-105 on Monday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Brooklyn overcame a 16-point third-quarter deficit, scoring 67 points in the second half, the most Miami has allowed after the break this season.
Center Brook Lopez and reserve guard Wayne Ellington keyed the Nets victory. Lopez had 26 points and 12 rebounds. Ellington scored a season-high 26 points. It was the third time he has scored 20 or more points against the Heat in the past four years.
Brooklyn (9-22) improved to 3-12 on the road this season. The Nets also snapped a five-game skid in their series against Miami.
Miami (18-12), which had its two-game win streak snapped, was led by guard Dwyane Wade, who had 24 points. Heat forward Chris Bosh had 24 points and 12 rebounds, and center Hassan Whiteside added 18 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks.
Miami, which shot 55 percent in the first quarter, had a 26-24 lead. Brooklyn shot just 38 percent, but the Nets managed to stay within reach by outscoring Miami 7-2 from the foul line and 7-4 on second-chance points.
The Heat closed the first half on a 13-3 run, taking a 58-44 advantage into the break. The Heat shot 58.3 percent in the first half and held Brooklyn to 31.8 percent.
Wade was a perfect five-for-five from the floor and made seven of eight from the foul line for 17 first-half points. Bosh had 12 points and was a plus-14 while he was on the court.
The Heat led by as many as 16 points in the third quarter, but the Nets came all the way back, outscoring Miami 34-19 in the period to take a 78-77 lead.
Miami was held to 29.4 percent shooting in the third quarter. Brooklyn shot 66.7 percent and was led by Lopez and Ellington, each with 11 points. Ellington went three-for-three on 3-pointers in the quarter.
NOTES: Heat F Justise Winslow, who injured his ankle in Miami's previous game, sat out for the first time this season. ... Heat C Hassan Whiteside played despite being bothered by the flu. ... Heat G Tyler Johnson (shoulder), who hasn't been healthy since Dec. 9, returned to the rotation. ... Heat F Josh McRoberts missed his 10th straight game, but coach Erik Spoelstra said the swelling is down in McRoberts' knee. ... Heat SG Dwyane Wade leads Eastern Conference guards in fan voting for the All-Star Game, set for Feb. 14 in Toronto. Heat F Chris Bosh is seventh among front-court players - the top three will start the game - and Whiteside is ninth. ... No Nets player is in the top 10 in either category. ... This was the first of eight straight games in which Brooklyn will play a team that currently has a winning record.