HOUSTON _ This is how the turnaround began, with the Jan. 17 victory over the Houston Rockets at AmericanAirlines Arena.
And because the Heat backed it up Wednesday night with a 117-109 decision over the Rockets at the Toyota Center to conclude the two-game season, they will go into the All-Star break with 14 victories in their last 16 games.
Putting on display so many of the facets that have created this turnaround, the Heat pushed to a 20-point lead and then fought off James Harden's 38-point, 12-rebound, 12-assist performance.
Hassan Whiteside, on the night he was snubbed for an All-Star berth in favor of New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, closed with 23 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots.
The Heat's backcourt was driven by the 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists of Dion Waiters and 21 points from Goran Dragic.
And when the Heat bench needed a boost, Tyler Johnson was there with 16 points.
While losses to the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic kept the Heat from a 16-game roll into their eight-day All-Star break, the hiatus nonetheless comes with a brightened outlook.
A pair of Ryan Anderson 3-pointers drew the Rockets within 100-86 with 7:21 to play. Another Anderson 3-pointer late trimmed the Heat lead to 105-94.
Later, a Harden 3-pointer and then driving layup got Houston within 109-101.
Then with 25.7 seconds to go, an Eric Gordon 3-pointer made it a 115-109 game.
The Heat held on from there.
The situation grew dire for the Rockets with 9:46 to play, when Harden was called for his fifth foul and the Houston down 92-80. As was the case when Harden picked up his fourth foul midway through the third, Harden remained in the game.
The Heat pushed their lead to 20 in the third quarter and went into the fourth quarter up 88-72, with Harden at 26 points at that stage.
Whiteside had his double-double before the midpoint of the third period after a violent series of dunks, just before Harden was called for his fourth foul with 5:36 to play in the quarter.
After a torrid first quarter, when they shot .737 from the field, the Heat went only 9 of 27 from the field in the second period but still managed to go into the intermission up 58-45 after nine second-quarter offensive rebounds.
The Rockets were fortunate to be even that close, after shooting .385 from the field and 3 of 14 on 3-pointers over the opening two period. Their early offense was salvaged by Harden, who had 16 first-half points.
The Rockets then lost starting guard Patrick Beverley for the second half with a strained left groin. Corey Brewer started the second half in place of Beverley.
The Heat opened 12 of 14 from the field and closed the first quarter up 34-28 behind seven points from Dragic, who made all three of his shots in the period. Harden, who shot 5 of 7 from the line, scored nine in the first 12 minutes.
Whiteside was forced to the bench with 5:34 left in the opening period with his second foul.
An eight-day All-Star break now follows for the Heat, who next play Feb. 24 against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena, the day after the NBA trading deadline.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said the break arrives when needed for a team forced to battle back from an 11-30 record at midseason.
"I think it's more important for the guys' state of mind, just to be able to clear it, not to think about the game at all," he said. "I'd really recommend guys, at least the first three days, spend time with family, loved ones, friends _ but don't think about the game.
"We've been on edge now for about over a month, six weeks, really locked in. And you do need some time to decompress. When we come back, it'll be a furious finish, the games will have so much importance. That's what these guys live for. They love that time of year. But you do need to recalibrate, recharge and then get back to it."
While also not getting too far from what is expected.
"Some of the guys who do need some time off physically, that first two or three days, that will give them a chance to get their bodies right, but then, after that, get back to some level of conditioning," Spoelstra said.
Unlike the NHL, where teams are given five-day breaks at staggered parts of the schedule, Spoelstra said the All-Star break and extended layoff puts all teams on equal footing.
"Everybody goes through it," he said. "We'll have a couple of practices. We'll have a program for guys while they're away. So it's not as if we have to deal with it and the rest of the league doesn't."
This was final game of the two-game season series. The Heat began their recent revival with a 109-103 Jan. 17 victory over the Rockets at AmericanAirlines Arena.
The Heat entered 2-3 against the Rockets in the previous five meetings, with losses in their previous three visits to Houston.
The Rockets entered idle since Saturday's 133-102 victory over the Suns, on a four-game winning streak after losing four of their previous six.
The Heat remained without Josh Richardson (foot), Justise Winslow (shoulder), Josh McRoberts (foot) and Chris Bosh (blood clots).
