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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, May 2, 2009

Heat pound Hawks to force a Game 7

By Tim Reynolds
Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Dwyane Wade

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser
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MIAMI — A season-saving win in the books, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat walked off the court last night with a stoic look. No celebrating, nary even a smile.

"Strictly about business," Wade said. "Now we move on."

To tomorrow. To Game 7.

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 Atlanta Hawks 98-72 in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference first-round series last night.

So a wild back-and-forth series — three routs for the Hawks, three routs for the Heat — will be decided tomorrow in Atlanta.

"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 tomorrow. It's winner-take-all time, with one team going to Cleveland to open the second round against LeBron James and the Cavaliers on Tuesday, the other heading into the offseason.

ATLANTA 18 24 14 16 — 72

MIAMI 32 19 27 20 — 98

ATLANTA—Evans 2-9 0-0 5, Smith 3-13 1-3 7, S.Jones 3-4 0-0 6, Bibby 6-12 5-6 20, Johnson 6-14 0-1 13, Murray 4-13 3-4 13, Pachulia 2-4 2-4 6, Williams 0-1 0-0 0, West 1-3 0-0 2, Law 0-0 0-0 0, Morris 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-73 11-18 72.

MIAMI—J.Jones 2-5 5-5 11, Haslem 1-2 0-0 2, Anthony 3-3 0-0 6, Chalmers 4-8 0-0 9, Wade 11-23 16-17 41, Beasley 11-25 0-0 22, Cook 2-6 0-0 5, Magloire 1-1 0-0 2, Wright 0-0 0-0 0, Diawara 0-1 0-2 0, Quinn 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 35-74 21-24 98.

3-Point Goals—Atlanta 7-21 (Bibby 3-6, Murray 2-5, Johnson 1-2, Evans 1-5, West 0-1, Smith 0-2), Miami 7-21 (Wade 3-7, J.Jones 2-4, Chalmers 1-2, Cook 1-4, Beasley 0-4). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Atlanta 44 (Smith 10), Miami 51 (Beasley 15). Assists—Atlanta 8 (Bibby 3), Miami 12 (Chalmers 8). Total Fouls—Atlanta 24, Miami 21. Technicals—Bibby, Evans, Pachulia, Smith, Atlanta defensive three second, Chalmers, Magloire, Miami defensive three second. A—19,600 (19,600).