Video: Dwyane Wade throws down putback dunk over Kevin Love

Dwyane Wade welcomed LeBron James and the Cavaliers back to Miami on Christmas with a big putback dunk over Kevin Love.
Video: Dwyane Wade throws down putback dunk over Kevin Love
Video: Dwyane Wade throws down putback dunk over Kevin Love /

Dwyane Wade welcomed LeBron James and the Cavaliers back to Miami on Christmas with a big putback dunk over Kevin Love.

With a little less than three minutes remaining in the first quarter and Miami leading 26-23, Wade darted through the paint to slam home a second-chance dunk over Love. The strong one-handed effort rattled the rim and Wade celebrated with some gesturing toward the home crowd.

Wade tallied 12 first-quarter points and Miami built a double-digit first-half lead over Cleveland. Wade finished with a game-high 31 points in Miami's 101-91 victory over Cleveland. Forward Luol Deng added 25 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Heat. James scored 30 points in the loss. The American Airlines Arena crowd welcomed James back with cheers in his first visit to Miami since departing for Cleveland in free agency last summer.

• GOLLIVER: LeBron forced to grin and bear Cavaliers' Christmas loss

Earlier Thursday, the NBA released its first round of All-Star Game ballot returns. Wade and James are on track to start for the Eastern Conference. Miami improved to 14-16 while Cleveland fell to 17-11.


Published
Ben Golliver
BEN GOLLIVER

Ben Golliver is a staff writer for SI.com and has covered the NBA for various outlets since 2007. The native Oregonian and Johns Hopkins University graduate currently resides in Los Angeles.