MIAMI, (Reuters) – The Boston Celtics were able to call on two returning starters to help them counter a virtuoso display by Dwyane Wade and edge the Miami Heat 112-106 in overtime on Wednesday.
Point guard Rajon Rondo scored six of his team-high 25 points in the extra session after he made the game-tying shot to force overtime on his first action since sitting out Saturday’s win over Toronto with a hamstring injury.
Wade exploded for a season-high 44 points and appeared to have given his team the win after a dramatic steal and dunk put the Heat ahead 101-99 with 0.6 seconds remaining, but Rondo answered by catching and scoring on an inbounds alley-oop at the buzzer.
Ray Allen added 22 points and Paul Pierce tallied 17 in his return from knee surgery, having missed five games, though the Celtics (25-8) were again without Kevin Garnett, who is expected to miss more games with leg injuries.
“What a great win,” Boston coach Doc Rivers told reporters.
“Our thought going into the game was if we could attack the paint and draw help and make interior passes, then we can get to the basket.”
Boston had trailed by 11 points with 7:33 left in the fourth before coming to life with a 21-6 run that put the visitors on top 99-95 with 53 seconds remaining.
Centre Kendrick Perkins had 20 points and 10 rebounds despite missing Tuesday’s practice with the flu.
Udonis Haslem had 19 points and nine rebounds for the Heat while Jermaine O’Neal returned from a groin injury to contribute 14 points.
Boston had claimed a 57-54 halftime lead but Miami (17-16) regained control late in the third before ultimately falling to their fourth defeat in five games.
“It really gets no tougher than this one,” Wade said. “All you can do is come back from it.”
