Nets 100, Heat 98 OT (B-t-B-Score) updated

First-year Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said this team needed all of the work it can get. So far, that's resulted in two overtime loss in as many preseason games.

The latest came Thursday from a packed Bercy Arena, where Dwyane Wade and Michael Beasley each scored 21 points to lead the Heat in a 100-98 loss the New Jersey Nets. Here's our postgame look at the game from the box score and beyond.

Player of the Game - Dwyane Wade. Clearly Wade has not missed a step from his Olympic form, and he said as much after finishing with 21 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals in 21 minutes. Wade has said he doesn't want to overdo it in the preseason, but felt a bit obligated to put on a show during this two-game stint as part of the NBA's Europe Live Tour.

"A couple of guys asked me before the game if it was going to be packed, and I told them yeah," Wade said. "I've been international. I told them it was going to be a great experience."

Wade then talked about being in mid-season form, physically. "I'm getting into an even better rhythm each game," Wade said. "I'm ahead of the level I would have been at had I not played in the Olympics. So it was good for me. I feel I can do the things physically I need to get done."

Tough night: Marcus Banks/Mario Chalmers - The Heats only two healthy point guards were feeling a bit sore after combining for 17 points, 10 fouls, 10 assists and 9 turnovers. Banks got the start and showed the ability early on to penetrate into the lane and find open shooters and slashers. But he also showed a lack of chemistry with Dwayne Wade on a couple of bad turnovers. Chalmers picked up three fouls in the first quarter and fouled out with 1.9 seconds left. Spoelstra has said Chalmers needs to limit those defensive gambles and stay in position. Devin Harris and Eddie Gill provided solid tests.

"The main thing is we've got a lot of time to get better," Banks said. "You have to realize that a lot of us are playing together really for the first time. We're going to be fine. We'll get it together."

Surprise, Surprise: Yakhouba Diawara - Maybe it was gesture to appease the hometown crowd. Maybe Diawara is deserving of the extended look. In either case, the Paris native was in the starting lineup for the second consecutive game. His shot has yet to arrive, but his defense is solid as advertised. Diawara drew the assignment of guarding Vince Carter, who was forced into some very difficult shots before he left the game in the second quarter with a strained hamstring. He had two crowd-pleasing dunks, but was just 4 of 12 from the field.

Major concern: Jamaal Magloire - The Heat announced after the game - and after the media sessions - that center Jamaal Magloire fractured a bone in his hand in the second half. Magloire was taken to a local hospital to confirm X-rays taken at the Arena. He will not accompany the team to London on Friday and will be re-evaluated when the team returns to Miami, but surgery might very well be required. Could this be the end - already - to the Magloire experiment? The Heat was hurting at center when they signed him to a vet's minimum deal last month. Now, Miami essentially is back where it started - with perimeter-oriented Mark Blount as the lone center on the roster with meaningful playing experience.

Faces in the Crowd - Actress Gabrielle Union was seated behind the Heat bench with Dwyane Wade's family for Thursday's game in Paris. Musician Lenny Kravitz was seated court-side across the Miami bench beside Heat owner Micky Arison and family.

Next up: Heat vs. Nets on Sunday in London.

Comments

[Danny]

I cannot believe Magloire needs surgery!! This is a disaster, he never even really proved himself. Now that leaves Blount, who is surprisingly doing a decent job, Anthony, who is known as "too raw", and now David Padgett who sure showed hustle but is probably even farther away from playing than Anthony.

[stevee]

Im glad Magloire isnt gonna make the team. I hope he's okay, hopefuly he gets a chance somewhere else...... but he offered NOTHING for us.

He's done. He's not a good player any more, at all.

[salqaddoumi]

"Faces in the Crowd - Actress Gabrielle Union was seated behind the Heat bench with Dwyane Wade's family for Thursday's game in Paris"

Alright, it's official ... Wade is tapping that.

[justin]

I think the NBA should hand the comeback player of the year award out right now. D Wade just went from Star Jones to Gabrielle Union.

[Santana25]

Does anybody think that this might trigger a trade sooner than possibly expected with Marion going somewhere for a guy who can play center? I know Magloire wasn't expected to be that big of a contributor, but the center position on this team scares me and I don't think that Haslem will be able to handle that spot consistently. Blount is fine as a backup, and Zo isn't expected to swoop in anytime soon to save us. I like Marion on this team, but I think that with James Jones, Diawara, Dorrel Wright, and possibly Beasley playing in the 3 spot we'll be fine.

With that said... Who on Earth can we trade for???

[Alex]

Gabrielle Union is so hot.... but I don't think Wade had a prenup. That's what you call a $15 million upgrade.

[HeatStroke]

lol at the insertion of gossip. I'm sure that paragraph will be deleted from the article soon.

[HeatFan]

Does anyone remember if Magloire's contract was guaranteed for this year? I don't really remember. Anyways, the more I really think about our situation, the more I see a Marion trade happening. I love the thought of trading for Lamarcus Aldridge from the Blazers (they have a serious hole at the 3 and with Oden looking like he's going to be ridiculous, there could be a logjam for them in the low post). We would still be getting a big expiring contract back in Raef Lafrentz since he would need to be included for cap purposes, which would still give us cap flexibility next year to add yet another 1 or 2 contributors.

The only issue I see there is we would potentially have a hole at the 3. We haven't seen anything from James Jones or Dorrell Wright yet, and Diawara is a defensive specialist, not a full time starter at the 3. Also, Beasley hasn shown he is most effective in the high post/elbow area, where he usually has a mismatch against other teams power forwards. However, if we are going to trade "holes", I think we are better equipped to manage one at the 3 than at the 5, not to mention that good big men are always more difficult to find, as evidenced by our current roster situation.

[MIA]

D Wade and Gabrielle Union together? Wow! Great taste D Wade. You are my hero on and off the court. lol