Houston Rockets
Heat-Rockets
When the percentages caught up to him, Dwyane Wade took over. Wade sank 12 of 13 foul shots in the final quarter and scored 32 points to lead the Miami Heat to a 101-95 victory over the Rockets. ``I got a rhythm going,’’ said Wade, who also had nine assists. ``The guys just did a good job of putting the ball in my hands.’’ O’Neal, a 46 percent shooter from the line this season, sank 11 of his first 12 free throws, including 10 in a row. He also had 14 rebounds for Miami. After his good start, O’Neal missed five of his final six free throws, more on par with his season average. Early on, his teammates could see how comfortable Shaq was when he stepped to the line. ``He wasn’t missing and he was looking good,’’ Wade said. ``He had that confident look. His eyes were real big and when that happens, you know he’s confident.’’ O’Neal went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in the third quarter, when the Heat finally started exploiting the absence of 7-foot-6 Yao Ming, who missed his 21st game since undergoing toe surgery on Dec. 19. Yao is expected back this week, but missed the chance to face the 7-1 O’Neal on the first day of the Chinese New Year. ``That was a positive note,’’ Miami coach Pat Riley said of O’Neal’s foul shooting. ``You could tell he was comfortable.’’ With 39-year-old Dikembe Mutombo struggling to guard him, O’Neal had two dunks and sank four free throws during a 10-2 Heat run in the first three minutes of the second half. ``I got a little rhythm going,’’ O’Neal said. ``I was getting fouled on every play. When I get my rhythm going, it’s pretty good.’’ Tracy McGrady scored 37 points and helped Houston mount a mild rally from a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit. With O’Neal out early in the fourth, McGrady scored twice inside the trim Houston’s deficit to 79-70. O’Neal came back with 7:45 left, but the Rockets continued their comeback. Lonny Baxter hit a reverse layup around O’Neal and Chuck Hayes put back a McGrady miss to cut Miami’s lead to 93-87 heading into the final minute. Wade answered with a bank shot with 58 seconds left and swished two free throws 12 seconds later to clinch Miami’s sixth win in its last seven road games. McGrady sank two deep 3-pointers in the final 30 seconds, but finished 4-of-15 from 3-point range. ``I don’t believe in moral victories. It wasn’t enough,’’ said McGrady, who went 13-of-37 from the field. McGrady also had 12 rebounds and six assists for the Rockets, who dropped to 4-15 at the Toyota Center. Rafer Alston added 26 points, but had only 10 points after a 12-point second quarter. The Rockets got off to a typically bad start at home, trailing by as many as 11 in the opening 10 minutes. McGrady missed four of his first five shots and quickly shed the plastic facemask he’s worn since Charlotte’s Jake Voskuhl elbowed him in the nose Wednesday. Houston trailed 23-16 heading to the second quarter, the 12th time the Rockets have trailed after one period in 19 home games. ``It’s mind-boggling. We’re still in the figuring-out process of why can’t we get it done at home?’’ Alston said. ``If we could find a way to keep them from jumping out early and winning the first quarter, the pressure would be on them the entire game.’’ Antoine Walker had a jumper, a 3-pointer and a driving layup early in the second as Miami pushed the lead to 13. But with the Heat’s defense preoccupied with McGrady, Alston got open and sparked a Houston rally. Alston hit four of five 3-pointers and scored 16 points in the first half, helping the Rockets cut the lead to 45-41 at halftime. With O’Neal continuing to hit free throws, the Heat outscored Houston 33-20 in the third quarter, holding Alston without a basket, controlling McGrady and hitting 11 of 22 shots. McGrady had nine points in the third, but missed seven of 11 shots. ``We came out of the locker room knowing we had let this team back in the game,’’ Wade said. ``We knew we had to get back our focus.’’ |
Playing for the first time in five weeks, Shaquille O’Neal came through in the clutch - and at the free throw line, of all places.
The NBA’s most notoriously erratic foul shooter sank the second of two tries with a second left in regulation to force overtime, and the Miami Heat ended a four-game losing streak by beating Washington 104-101 Sunday night.
Coming off the bench in his first action since a sprained right ankle sidelined him Nov. 3, O’Neal looked rusty but finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds, four in overtime. He fouled out with 1:33 left after playing 23 minutes.
``I felt pretty good,’’ O’Neal said. ``I just wanted to get my guys going - bring some energy and spirit to the lineup.’’
Dwyane Wade scored a season-high 41 points, including the final six for the Heat, and added 10 rebounds and eight assists. But it was O’Neal who sank the shot that kept Miami in the game.
The Wizards led 95-94 with 7 seconds left in the fourth quarter, but the Heat won a jump ball at their end. Wade passed inside to O’Neal, who was immediately fouled.
Nervous, big guy?
``I don’t get nervous in any situation,’’ O’Neal said. ``There’s no such thing as nerves when you’re playing games.’’
His first attempt rimmed out, but after a Miami timeout, he swished the second try.
``I knew I was going to make one,’’ O’Neal said. ``I wanted to make two, but the first one rattled in and rattled right out.’’
O’Neal finished 6-for-16 at the line, not including two misses negated by lane violations.
Washington lost despite season-high scoring performances by reserves Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins. Butler had 28 points and Atkins 26.
``I think we’ve proven we can play with anybody in the Eastern Conference,’’ Atkins said. ``Now we have to learn how to win.’’
The Heat beat the Wizards for the ninth time in a row. Washington’s last win in the series came on April 11, 2003.
Gilbert Arenas, battling tightness in his groin, scored 24 points for Washington but missed 19 of 24 shots. The Wizards, who blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead Saturday night to Chicago, lost their third game in a row.
Miami’s Gary Payton had 21 points and seven rebounds, both season highs.
Wade’s basket with 2 minutes left in overtime put Miami ahead to stay, 100-98. He topped 30 for the third game in a row.
``With Dwyane, you almost have to have three defenders,’’ Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said.
The game was billed as a tribute to the ’70s, with both teams in throwback uniforms. The Heat wore black, pink and orange outfits styled after the Miami Floridians of the ABA, while Washington wore Baltimore Bullets-style uniforms.
Reviews of the apparel were mixed, but some of the basketball was unsightly. Washington shot 39 percent and still led for much of the game. When Atkins scored 11 points in a 3-minute span to help the Wizards take a 46-38 lead, there were scattered boos from the crowd.
O’Neal entered with 5:55 left in the first quarter to an enthusiastic but brief ovation. He scored his first point less than 2 minutes later, making one of two free throws. His first field goal, late in the third quarter, put Miami ahead 66-60.
The Heat went 9-9 during the five weeks O’Neal was sidelined. They’re 2-1 with him.
``Words can’t express how good it is to see him back out there,’’ teammate Alonzo Mourning said. ``I know how frustrating it was for him to be out.’’
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