Miami, FL (My Sportsbook) - Dwyane Wade's 25 points and big buckets down the stretch helped the Miami Heat hold off the Philadelphia 76ers, 97-91.

Wade also doled out nine assists and added three blocks for the Heat, who have alternated wins and losses for the last six games. Jermaine O'Neal, in his second game with the club since being traded from Toronto, logged 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Udonis Haslem chipped in 13 and 10 for the victors.

Andre Miller, battling through a right calf strain, recorded a Sixers season- high 30 points to go with nine rebounds, but Philly dropped its third straight game. Lou Williams connected for 22 points off the bench, and Marreese Speights tallied 12 points in limited minutes.

Andre Iguodala made just 4-of-16 from the floor to finish with just 14 points in the setback.

Miami held a slim lead for most of the fourth quarter until Williams gave the Sixers an 83-82 advantage with a three-pointer around the four-minute mark.

Speights came up with a loose ball on Miami's next possession and capped Philly's 7-0 spurt with a hard-fought bucket for an 85-82 edge with 3:21 on the clock.

Still trailing by three, the Heat scored eight straight points to take the lead for good. Wade's driving basket with a minute to play pumped the difference to 92-87.

"[Wade] took over the game for them," Williams said. "He made some plays. He requires so much attention that he was able to get other people involved. That is what it all boiled down to."

Miller's field goal after two Williams free throws had the Sixers within one, but Mario Chalmers sank two free throws, and Williams was well off on a contested three-pointer with roughly 15 seconds to play to seal the game's outcome.

"It was an important win for us," Wade said. "It was a must-win for us to get this game versus a team that is fighting with us for the positions in the playoffs."

Defense was the story line in the opening half, as the first quarter ended with Miami ahead, 20-16, while the Sixers inched back to tie things, 40-40, at the break.

A 12-4 run capped by three Wade free throws gave the Heat a 57-49 lead at the midway point of the third. The margin was four, 67-63, heading to the final frame.

Game Notes

Miami leads the season series, 2-1...Miller has played in 502 consecutive games, the NBA's longest active streak...Iguodala also recorded eight assists for the Sixers, who made just 37.1 percent from the field but hit 21-of-25 from the foul line...Miami connected on 51.4 percent of its shots...Thaddeus Young scored 10 points for Philly...Jamario Moon, who along with O'Neal was sent from Toronto to Miami in exchange for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks during the All-Star break, had 12 points off the bench...The Sixers had not lost three straight since a four-game slide from December 20-29 earlier this season.