One last dance. One last game winner?
16-year veteran Dwyane Wade continued his retirement tour Wednesday night by banking in a one-footed fadeaway 3-pointer as time expired to give the Heat a one-point win over the defending-champion Warriors.
DWYANE WADE buries the #TissotBuzzerBeater for the @MiamiHEAT victory! #ThisIsYourTime #OneLastDance pic.twitter.com/wxAFaxNn6X
— NBA (@NBA) February 28, 2019
It was a virtuoso performance for the 37-year-old, who finished the night with 25 points (on 10-for-17 shooting), seven rebounds and three assists in 26 minutes of action. Wade's game-winner was one of five 3-pointers he made on the night, and he shot 62.5 percent from distance.
#OneLastDance@DwyaneWade puts up 25 PTS off the bench, including the @MiamiHEAT winner! #HeatCulture pic.twitter.com/ui9LlMdJGy
— NBA (@NBA) February 28, 2019
There was no better way for the three-time champ to cap off his performance than by knocking down the fifth game-winning buzzer-beater of his career – his first since he hit a one-footed running 3-pointer against the Bulls 10 seasons ago.
Poetically, Wade celebrated his game-winner against the Warriors the same way he celebrated against the Bulls in 2009, jumping atop the scorers' table to the adoration of the sold-out crowd at American Airlines Arena.
With the win, the Heat move to 27-33 on the season and are now just a half game behind the Hornets for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. The Warriors fall to 43-18 and are now just a half game ahead of the Nuggets for the West's top seed.
With Goran Dragic back from injury and Wade continuing to play at a high level, Miami is in a good position to make a push for the final playoff spot – a fitting send off for the future Hall of Famer.
Miami is back in action Thursday as it travels to Houston to take on James Harden and the Rockets.