Fearless Wade leads Miami rout
Beasley breaks out of slump with double-double
Miami ? Dwyane Wade soared past Zaza Pachulia, throwing down a fierce dunk as the Atlanta forward sent him sprawling into a row of photographers.
Down. Definitely not out.
When the Miami Heat needed him most, Wade was at his best.
Wade scored 41 points, Michael Beasley busted out of a slump with 22 points and 15 rebounds, and the Heat stayed alive by routing the Hawks, 98-72, in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference first-round series Friday night.
So a wild back-and-forth series — three routs for the Hawks, three routs for the Heat — will be decided Sunday in Atlanta in Game 7.
“No pressure on us,” Wade said. “We’re the underdogs in this series.”
Mike Bibby scored all 20 of his points in the first half for Atlanta, which fell behind by 15 in the opening quarter, cut the deficit to nine by halftime, but never really challenged from there. Flip Murray and Joe Johnson added 13 apiece for the Hawks, who lost a first-round Game 7 last season against Boston.
That, though, didn’t come with the comfort of the home-court advantage they’ll enjoy Sunday.
It’ll be winner-take-all time, with one team going to Cleveland to open the second round against LeBron James and the Cavaliers on Tuesday night, and the other heading into an offseason that’ll surely be filled with what-might-have-beens.
“It’s going to be hectic,” Beasley said. “It’s going to be crazy.”
The wacky run of outcomes continued: Atlanta’s wins have been by 26, 10 and 15 points. The Heat have prevailed by 15, 29 and 26 points.
The fourth quarter brought a slew of signature moments for Wade. Early in the fourth, he rushed downcourt and blocked Murray’s layup attempt, got the rebound — and then got knocked to the floor by Murray.
Wade got up, high-fived Mario Chalmers, then dunked on Pachulia moments later.

