After three consecutive close contests, the Miami Heat was finally able to close out their opponents well before the final buzzer.

As in their previous four contests, Miami was able to build a huge lead, only to see it dwindle down late in the game. Following their wire-to-wire 117-88 blowout of the Brooklyn Nets, veteran guard Dwyane Wade said that Miami needs to sustain their leads to avoid several fourth quarter battles, per ESPN.

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“We needed that. We needed to keep that lead,” Wade said. “Obviously, at this time of the year everyone has games coming rapidly. You don't always want to be in a fourth-quarter battle.”

Maybe it's just Father Time catching up to Father Prime? Puns aside, the 36-year old All-Star, who is on his #OneLastDance Tour, might just be feeling the grind of the long 82-game season.

Regardless, it was a much needed kind of win for Miami as they have gone down the wire in four of their last five games prior to tonight's cruising victory over the Nets. Surely, having several close-call contests can take its toll on players as the season winds down, and any kind of rest at this point would be beneficial.

With last night's win, Miami kept its hopes alive to give D-Wade one last playoff run before he eventually hangs 'em up at season's end. Despite currently sitting at 10th in the Eastern Conference, only 2.5 games separate them from the sixth place Nets. They are also just one game behind the eighth seeded Orlando Magic and ninth place Charlotte Hornets.

Miami looks to build on their win last night as the scorching hot rookie Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks pay a visit to South Beach on Tuesday.