NBA Playoffs

Miami Heat #2 vs. New Jersey Nets #3 The Heat has to figure out a way to beat New Jersey. After Monday's 100-88 Game 1 loss to the Nets, against all Sportsbook odds, the Heat is now 1-4 against New Jersey, which isn't promising in this best-of-seven second-round series. "We have to understand these guys are here to play and if we don't come out with energy from the beginning then we're going to have the same results in the next game" forward Udonis Haslem said. Miami, which shot .478 during the regular season, shot .414 against the Nets in the regular season and .391 in Game 1. Miami trailed 12-2 in the first quarter and never got anything going. "That wasn't the way we wanted to start," coach Pat Riley saidMiami committed nine first quarter turnovers and never recovered as it lost, 100-88, to the Nets. New Jersey's transition and fast-break offense hurt the Heat badly. Miami's 39.1 field goal percentage allowed Jason Kidd to run the break to near perfection. "He was as good as I've seen him," coach Pat Riley said. Center Shaquille O'Neal had a relatively meaningless 20 points and 10 rebounds, and stayed in foul trouble. "He needs to make the adjustment and keep his arms lower," Riley said. Guard Dwayne Wade scored 25 points, but none in the fourth quarter. New Jersey was 9-for-22 on three-pointers, taking advantage of another Heat weakness. Miami allowed opponents to shoot .395 on three-pointers, which ranked 12th among the 16 first-round playoff teamsNew Jersey took away home court from the Heat with a victory in the Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 1, but the main issue for the Nets in Wednesday's Game 2 is the status of Richard Jefferson 's sprained right ankle. "I'm very confident I can deal with quite a bit of pain. I feel that I can deal with more pain than most individuals," said Jefferson. "I played for 2-1/2 weeks with a torn ligament in my wrist. I feel confident if there's a way for me to play even with some pain -- a lot of pain -- I could go." Jefferson landed awkwardly in the third quarter and left for the locker room. And he said there was absolutely no reason to even try to return to Game 1. "We were up 24," Jefferson noted. They got off to a scintillating start and withstood everything that came against them.