Wade Puts Knicks Away at the Buzzer

As Dwyane Wade’s shot arched downward, plenty was hanging in the balance for the Miami Heat: clinching a playoff spot, reaching 50 wins, silencing Madison Square Garden.

All of the above happened Tuesday night as Wade’s fadeaway 22-footer swished as the final buzzer sounded, giving Miami a 98-96 victory over the New York Knicks and extending the Heat’s winning streak to 10 games.

“When they put the ball in your hands, they put it there for a reason,” said Wade, isolated against rookie Trevor Ariza on the final shot. “That’s a shot I always dreamed of taking, especially at the Garden. It was a dream come true for me.”

After putting together a 14-game winning streak earlier this season, Miami became the first Eastern Conference team since the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls to have two double-digit winning streaks in a season.

Wade scored 24 points and Shaquille O’Neal had 23. Stephon Marbury had 24 points for New York, which led, 78-68, entering the fourth quarter.

Cleveland 92, Utah 73 -- LeBron James had 36 points on 11-of-15 shooting in 34 minutes against Carlos Boozer’s new team at Cleveland, leading the Cavaliers to their third straight victory.

Boozer (foot) didn’t make the trip to Cleveland, the city where he’s considered a traitor for signing a $68-million free-agent deal with the Jazz last summer after first agreeing to a deal with the Cavaliers.

Seattle 99, Chicago 93 -- Rashard Lewis scored 30 points on 11-of-14 shooting at Chicago to help the SuperSonics holds off the Bulls.

Ben Gordon had 21 points for Chicago, including two free throws that cut Seattle’s lead to 93-91 with 50.3 left, but the Bulls could get no closer.

Minnesota 100, Dallas 91 -- Kevin Garnett scored 11 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and Sam Cassell returned from a seven-game injury absence with 15 at Dallas to help the Timberwolves spoil Maverick Coach Don Nelson’s return from a three-game absence while caring for his wife. Cassell had a strained hamstring.

Sacramento 105, Orlando 94 -- Mike Bibby scored 10 straight fourth-quarter points and finished with 21 to help send the visiting Magic to its fifth straight loss. Peja Stojakovic had 27 points and Bibby added 10 assists and six rebounds.