http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1083414815276990.xml Wade again hits big shot Rookie's 3-pointer is clutch, like drive in Game 1 victory Saturday, May 01, 2004 By John Reid Staff writer MIAMI -- The moment the 3-point shot left Heat guard Dwyane Wade's hands, Lamar Odom knew it was good. It came at the best possible moment for the Heat. The score was tied at 80 and there were 54.4 seconds remaining. Odom drove at the top of the key with three seconds remaining on the shot clock. He had no other option except to pass to Wade, who was standing wide-open in the right corner. "The ball always moves the fastest when you pass it," Odom said. "Once I got him the ball, I didn't have any doubt he could make the shot." Wade delivered again. He did it in Game 1 with a driving shot in the lane with 1.3 seconds remaining that clinched an 81-79 victory. This time, he pulled up before point guard Baron Davis could contest him and nailed a 3-pointer that gave the Heat the lead for good. "I'm always looking to make plays," Wade said. "I'm my hardest critic. When I caught the pass, I didn't want to let my team down." Wade had struggled in Games 3 and 4 at New Orleans Arena. He didn't move quick enough to the basket against Davis. He appeared to be frustrated over missed calls and his ineffective play. But he was the clutch player who carried the Heat down the stretch, making three of five shots in the fourth quarter to score seven of his 21 points. Only Eddie Jones did better in the quarter, scoring eight of his 25. The Hornets started the fourth quarter with a 63-58 lead and couldn't hold it. They rushed perimeter shots and couldn't make them. Davis finished with a game-high 33 points, but he missed seven of nine shots in the fourth. Hornets backup guard Darrell Armstrong missed three chances at trying to make a 3-pointer in the closing minute. Guard David Wesley missed all four shots. The Hornets shot 7-of-27 in the quarter. The Heat made eight of 12. "We didn't look like the experienced team down the stretch tonight," Wesley said. "They were able to make plays, and we didn't." In total playoff games experience before the series started, the Hornets had a 414-167 edge against the Heat. The Hornets are the oldest team in the league, with seven players who have 10 years or more experience. The Heat has eight players who have played less than five seasons. But they were the clutch performers Friday night, leading to their victory to take a 3-2 lead into Sunday's Game 6 at New Orleans Arena. "He (Wade) hit a big-time 3," Heat forward Caron Butler said. "They were trying to put a body on him. He was really aware of the shot clock, and he knocked down the 3. That was big." The Heat went on to to outscore the Hornets 29-20 in the fourth quarter, despite shooting 44.3 percent for the game. But they held the Hornets to 35.4-percent shooting. But afterward, what excited Heat coach Stan Van Gundy mostly was the poise that Wade showed. "I think Dwyane has the potential to be a very good shooter," Van Gundy said. "It was an unbelievable shot he made." . . . . . . . John Reid can be reached at [email protected] or (504) 826-3405. --

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