MIAMI -- Dwyane Wade is on a tear -- and we're not talking knees or his hamstrings.

After scoring 32 points to outshine former teammate LeBron James in Monday's blowout victory against Cleveland, Wade dropped 32 again in Wednesday's rally to slip past the Portland Trail Blazers for the Miami Heat's third straight home win in their desperate push to secure a playoff spot.

This is the best I've seen Wade play since he tore through the 2008 Olympics and followed that up with a scoring title during the 2008-09 season and a third-place finish in the MVP balloting. Wade has scored at least 25 points in seven consecutive games, his longest such streak since 2010.

So yes, he's turned back the clock a bit -- perhaps just in time to help salvage the Heat's season. After his latest vintage outing, Wade talked about his recent stretch of breakout performances.

Dwyane Wade has scored at least 25 points in seven consecutive games, his longest such streak since he had eight in a row in 2010. David Santiago/El Nuevo Herald/Getty Images

Q: Coach Erik Spoelstra basically said the late-game strategy is simply to give the ball to you. Is it as simple as you reverting back to your form from the 2006 NBA Finals?

Wade: I don't know about 2006 mode, but [it's] the mode of now. When I got into the game, Luol [Deng] got hot in the third [quarter] and Goran [Dragic] was hot in the third and early fourth. When I got a chance to get in, they just told me, 'Take us home.' Say no more. I'm going to do my best, and my best was good enough.

Q: Has it been a case of you picking your spots or just attacking from the start?

Wade: Throughout the whole game, I just see how a team is playing me, where they're forcing me and where I'm getting my shots. Early on, I missed so many open floaters, I couldn't believe it. I hadn't been that open in a while. I had to make the adjustments. Hassan [Whiteside] sets great screens, and I was able to come off and use the elusiveness that I have.

Q: You rank atop the league in fourth-quarter scoring. Is that a return to your comfort zone?

Wade: I welcome it. This is what I love to do and what I enjoy to do. This is the fun part of this game. Obviously the last couple of years, I had to do what I had to do for that team. But now, for this team, I get to be a little bit back to my usual self with having the ball. I'm not going to do it right every time, but I like my chances most nights. The biggest thing for us at this time of year is if we can get stops and can keep the games close enough. We have enough on the [offensive] end.

Q: How do you describe the improving chemistry with Goran Dragic?

Wade: It is just whoever has the ball, we are just confident with that guy making a play. I am very confident in him at the end of games. We are in similar positions. I think he is confident in me taking [the lead]. It is just about who has it going. He has been very important in my success this month, and vice versa. It has been great for both of us.

Q: A week or so ago, you were in here marveling at the stretch Russell Westbrook has been on. What does it feel like for you to now be the talk of the league because of your play?

Wade: It feels good, man. I took a lot of criticism. I've taken a lot of criticism, and I've worked very hard on my body to get to the point where I know, fourth quarter, it shows. That means a lot to me. When everyone is tired, I go up a notch. And for an old guy, that's not bad at all to have that extra level to go to when I'm playing against so many talented young guys. It feels good. I can't say it doesn't. But I know the work that I have to put in to keep it going.

Q: What's been the difference in your approach lately?

Wade: I was in and out. Obviously, I missed a long period of time and it just takes your rhythm off, and we had a lot of juggling going on with our team and didn't have any continuity. Now we're getting continuity, and I'm feeling the best I've felt all year. But I've been playing now consistently for a while. Knock on this good wood right here that I'll continue.

Q: But you did tweak your routine and approach recently in some way, correct?

Wade: I did a new routine. I did a slight tweak. I've been more on a Ray Allen kick, getting in very early for these last 15 games. Just getting in real earlier, getting my body and my heart rate up early and getting to the moves I'm used to. I'm working out with Juwan Howard a lot, and he's been getting me used to length. I know what [defenders] like to do with me. I've adjusted my routine a little bit on game day. In between games, it's the same.

Q: LeBron waited after his game in Cleveland to watch the finish of your game against Portland. He even predicted your move on the go-ahead shot. Surprising to hear?

Wade: He knows. Ain't no secret. I've got a couple of moves, but that's a go-to [one]. One thing is a lot of teams try to force me to my right. They forced me to my right, and Hassan set a good screen, so I was able to come back to my left. I'm as comfortable this year going to my right as I've been since early in my career.

Q: Although you missed 18 games this season, do you think that time off helped rejuvenate you a bit?

Wade: I don't know. I can answer it both ways. But whatever happened happened. And it all happened for a reason. It's the way I look at it, anyway. Sometimes I don't understand what that reason is at that time. But I feel as good as I've felt in years, you know, right now. You question it. And you try not to question it like, ‘Why? Why couldn't I feel like this the last two years?' But it is what it is. I'm feeling like this now when I need it individually to [carry] more of a load to help this team. I'm glad I feel as good as I do now, you know.

Q: Your wife, actress Gabrielle Union, tweeted that you had another great game but that you need to clean up the mess your new dog made when you get home. Are you aware of the trouble you're in?

Wade: She keeps me humble. It's hard now. It's so hard. [The puppy] just walks and pees everywhere right now, man. And I mean everywhere.