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Purple-shirted fan doesn't think he cost Hornets Game 6

Streeter Lecka / Getty Images Sport / Getty

If Dwyane Wade was looking for motivation in Game 6, he found it in a loud-mouthed, purple-shirt wearing Charlotte Hornets fan courtside.

The 12-time All-Star was caught jawing with 43-year-old fan Michael Deason during the fourth quarter as he led Miami in crunch time to a 97-90 win, helping the Heat stave off elimination.

The trash-talking, seven-year season-ticket holder, Deason gained national attention for the exchange, but acknowledged he's no stranger to game-time interactions with members of the Heat.

"Those guys, they don't like me," Deason told Theoden Janes of the Charlotte Observer. "The coach (Erik Spoelstra) doesn't like me, the players get in trouble if they talk to me, Gerald Green, he tries his best not to talk to me and every time he does they ream him a new one. So when the Heat come to town, I try to step it up a little bit more."

Charlotte trailed 90-88 with one minute remaining. Then Wade made a pair of field goals, and a crucial block on Kemba Walker to help Miami finish the game on a 7-2 run. Wade routinely looked back at Deason after a made basket, who advised Wade to retire, despite him hitting two big shots.

While Deason appeared to have poked the bear, he doesn't believe he's to blame for Wade heating up.

"No, I didn't lose the game for them last night," Deason said. "Hell, did I win the game for them in Game 3 and 4? Because I was cheering a hell of a lot louder in Game 3 and 4."

Deason told Janes that he doesn't plan on renewing his season tickets next season so at least he got his money's worth.

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