Dwyane Wade entered Tuesday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers with a 14-15 all-time record going head-to-head against longtime friend LeBron James. That mark is now even after the Miami Heat doled out a convincing 98-79 win over James' team, putting a deadlock on their all-time clash.
“Every time I look forward to the environment. I look forward to the competitiveness, the competition of it. And I want to walk away with the win,” said Wade prior to the game, according to Uproxx Sports' Ryan Nagelhout. “So he got me by one right now and I need this. It’s our last time facing him this year so I definitely want to even it out.”
The two parted ways initially after James left the Heat in 2014, but reunited earlier this season after Wade was bought out of his $24 million contract with the Chicago Bulls, and signed with the Cavaliers.
It only took 46 games for the Cavs' front office to walk it back and trade him back to the Heat at the trade deadline, getting only a future second-round pick in return for their bench player.
Wade has taken to the bench during his short time with the Heat, but the aura of the American Airlines Arena has revitalized the 36-year-old, who's provided plenty of flash-back memories to those in South Beach, including a game-winner and a vintage block on his friend James during a convincing Tuesday night win — one that propelled the Heat to seventh place in the Eastern Conference playoff race.