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Heat-Nets

Heat-Nets

Vince Carter made his case on Saturday that he should've been voted a starter for the Eastern Conference for this month's All-Star game. Carter had 28 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for his second career triple-double and the New Jersey Nets beat the Miami Heat 105-92 for their 10th straight home win. Carter put more than half of his points on the board in the first quarter when he was being guarded by the Heat's Dwyane Wade, the player who beat him out for one of the starting guard positions for the Eastern Conference. ``I was taking what they were giving me early,'' Carter said. ``I was free on some pick-and-rolls and was able to get into the lane and make things happen. Later I was able to find open guys and they were knocking them down.'' One player who benefited was forward Clifford Robinson, who started in place of ailing Nenad Krstic and responded with a season-high 23 points, including 4-for-6 from 3-point range. Richard Jefferson scored 26 for New Jersey (24-21), which shot 42-for-79 (53 percent) and never trailed in the game. Wade scored 31 points for the Heat (29-19), but got little help from his teammates, who shot 20-of-56 (36 percent). Antoine Walker scored 19 off the bench for Miami, which had a four-game winning streak snapped. The Nets' last two home wins have come against Miami and Detroit, the teams with the top two records in the Eastern Conference. What has kept them just barely over .500 is an inability to bottle that momentum and take it on the road, where they have lost six straight and nine of 10. ``We play at a high level at home, and I hope we can continue to do that and carry that on the road,'' Carter said. ``It seems like on the road we always dig ourselves a hole and have to fight out of it.'' No digging out was required Saturday, though on two occasions the Nets had to fend off rallies by the Heat. Miami scored 14 straight points to cut a 16-point deficit to two before halftime, and cut a 15-point lead to one spanning the end of the third and the beginning of the fourth quarters. With the Nets clinging to an 84-83 lead, Robinson provided some breathing room with a three-point play on a backdoor layup off a pass from Jefferson. His 3-pointer with 3:27 left kicked off a 10-0 Nets run that increased the lead to 101-87 with less than 2 minutes remaining. ``I just tried to do what I had to do,'' said Robinson, who is in his 17th season and has been in the NBA longer than any other active player. ``I've been playing a long time, been a starter in this league and come off the bench too, and been effective at both. So to step in and start and be effective shouldn't be a surprise to anybody.'' With Krstic out with the flu, the job of defending Shaquille O'Neal fell to Jason Collins, and he neutralized the Heat center in the first half, allowing him only six shots and five points. O'Neal finished with 11 points, his fourth-lowest total of the season. ``It was a long day for us,'' said Heat guard Gary Payton, who was 0-for-6 and went scoreless. ``I couldn't make a shot. Shaq couldn't get it going. The only ones who kept us in it were Dwyane and Antoine, and Alonzo (Mourning) played well. We can't have just three people playing well.''

Heat-Cavaliers

Cavaliers 115, Heat 107

 

Pat Riley, meet LeBron James.

James helped spoil an otherwise perfect week for the returning Miami coach, scoring 41 points and taking over late to give the Cleveland Cavaliers a 115-107 victory over Riley and the Heat on Saturday night.

Riley, coaching against James for the first time, was impressed.

``A guy like that gets it going, what are you going to do?'' Riley said. ``I've seen too many players like him. At times, you're helpless.''

Donyell Marshall put up season highs of 25 points and 13 rebounds and Larry Hughes scored 20 points, but it was James' 13 straight points in the fourth quarter that held off the Heat's comeback.

Dwyane Wade led the Heat with 33 points and Shaquille O'Neal tied a season-low with 10.

Miami had won four straight, including three with Riley after Stan Van Gundy resigned Monday. Cleveland has won two straight after dropping seven of nine.

``This is a very big win because it's against an Eastern Conference powerhouse,'' James said. ``We caught them on the end of a back to back, but they can win a game at any time.''

The Heat looked sluggish early, playing their fourth road game in five nights.

``We would have liked to come away 4-0, but they had more energy than we did and they hit a lot of shots,'' O'Neal said.

O'Neal got into foul trouble and the Cavaliers led by 22 late in the third quarter.

But Miami, playing with its reserves on the floor, went on a 14-0 run to pull to 95-87 with 8:09 left on strong inside play from Alonzo Mourning and Antoine Walker.

``They're a great team and they hadn't made a run all night. We knew they would,'' James said. ``It was time for me to wake up.''

James took control, scoring Cleveland's next 13 points - a layup high off the glass, three jumpers, a pair of free throws and a 3-pointer - as the Cavs made it 108-98 with 3:26 to go.

``Once I start feeling like that, I feel unstoppable,'' James said.

Riley didn't have an answer for James, who was born two years after the coach won his first NBA title in his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1982.

``He's like a freight train with Dwyane Wade's speed,'' Riley said.

Wade's layup made it 111-107 with 43.7 seconds left. But he missed a 3-pointer with 8 seconds remaining and the Cavaliers made enough free throws to hold off Miami.

Wade praised Miami's bench for getting them back in it, but acknowledged the Heat overall didn't have enough intensity on defense.

James added 10 assists, five rebounds and was 12-of-13 from the foul line.

``The whole game he was terrific,'' Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. ``Toward the end, he put us on his back like many times before and he carried us. And he even carried me, if I called a play he executed it.''

Marshall scored 14 points in the third quarter, capped by a 3-pointer with under a minute left for Cleveland's biggest lead, 93-71.

Mourning scored 14 points and Walker 10 points and seven assists.

The Cavs' Drew Gooden sprained his left ankle when he came down on O'Neal's foot late in the first half. He had to be helped off the floor and did not return.

After the game, Gooden said he reaggravated an old injury, but did not expect to miss significant time.

Cleveland's Zydrunas Ilgauskas lay sprawled on the floor his hands over his head with 55.7 seconds left after colliding with Wade's shoulder on a loose ball for his sixth foul. A few minutes later Ilgauskas walked off the court with a large knot over his right eye.

Hughes scored 19 of his 20 points in the first half. He made back to back 3-pointers, then stole a pass and ran the length of the court to give Cleveland a 56-38 lead with 1:34 left.

Notes: The Cavaliers had lost three straight to the Heat. ... Miami has scored 100 points or more in five straight games. ... O'Neal had not lost to the Cavaliers in 10 meetings dating to March 18, 1999, when he had 37 points and 19 rebounds in a 100-93 loss with the Lakers. ... Heat G Jason Williams missed his sixth straight game with right knee tendinitis. ... Cavaliers G Ira Newble was active for the first time this season after missing 21 games with right foot plantar fasciitis. He did not play. ... Riley said his first week back on the sideline has been a whirlwind: ``I don't know what I'm doing,'' he said. ``I'm just trying to get through the week. Next week, I'll put some plays in and start screwing them up.''

	Miami Heat - Cleveland Cavaliers Goals Total 1 2 3 OT Shootout Miami Heat 107 Cleveland Cavaliers 115

 

Houston Rockets

Heat-Rockets

For a while, Shaquille O’Neal couldn’t miss a free throw against the Houston Rockets on Sunday. 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.’’

 

Heat-Wizards

 

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.’’

 

 

Nuggets-Heat

Nuggets 100, Heat 92

Everyone in the arena seemed to watch the flight of Antoine Walker’s 3-point try with 33 seconds left. Apparently, no one wearing a Miami Heat uniform saw Greg Buckner going the other way. Fortunately for Denver, Andre Miller did. He grabbed the rebound of Walker’s miss and found Buckner for an easy layup that put the Nuggets ahead to stay in their 100-92 win over the struggling Heat on Friday night. Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade put on an offensive showcase, each finishing with a season high in points: Anthony 40, Wade 37. But the Nuggets simply executed better than the Heat down the stretch, finishing the game on a 12-0 run that sent Miami to a fourth straight loss and dropped its record to a mediocre 10-10. ``You give up a runout to lose the game, you deserve to lose,’’ Heat coach Stan Van Gundy said. ``Plain and simple, you deserve to lose. Nobody should feel sorry for you or nothing else. ... If you haven’t learned things like that over your time in the league, you’re not experienced. You’re just old.’’ Anthony was 13-of-30 from the field and 13-of-14 from the foul line, finishing one point shy of his career high. Marcus Camby had 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Nuggets, who opened a six-game road trip. ``It was definitely fun to watch. ... Melo was spectacular,’’ Camby said. Wade was 10-of-23 from the floor, 17-of-21 from the line and added 10 rebounds for the Heat, who led by four with 2:01 left but wound up losing to the Nuggets for the second time in less than a week. Denver won 101-99 on its home floor last Saturday.

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``It was a great game with two great players,’’ Nuggets coach George Karl said. ``When we went down four we kept playing, kept staying with it. Fortunately we figured out how to make Dwyane Wade miss a shot.’’ Walker had 17 points for Miami, which got 13 from Gary Payton - the 1,000th double-digit scoring effort of his career, most among active NBA players. Payton had eight points in a 1:34 stretch of the fourth, including a layup following Wade’s steal to give Miami a 91-88 lead with 2:35 left. James Posey added a free throw for a 92-88 edge 34 seconds later. But it was wasted. Camby’s jumper with 47 seconds left drew Denver into a 92-all tie, and after Walker missed the 3-pointer, Buckner’s easy layup helped seal Miami’s fate in a hotly contested game, one with 16 ties and 23 lead changes. ``Stan’s always been a guy who calls it like he sees it, and he’s calling it like he sees it,’’ Heat forward Udonis Haslem said. ``Nobody’s going to feel bad for us.’’ Buckner finished with 14 points and Miller had 12 points and eight assists for the Nuggets, who won for the third time in nine road games this season. With Wade and Anthony carrying their respective clubs, the teams entered the fourth quarter tied at 67. Anthony had 16 of Denver’s 25 third-quarter points, including a jumper with 5.2 seconds left that tied the game for the 10th time. Wade scored 14 consecutive Heat points over a seven-minute stretch of the third, ensuring that Miami never trailed by more than four in the period. ``It was fun competition out there, him doing what he’s doing and me doing what I’m doing,’’ Anthony said. ``At the end of the game, it’s all fun and games.’’ That’s easy to say after a win. Wade saw things a bit differently in a glum Heat locker room. ``A lot of the games we’ve lost, we’ve been right in there,’’ Wade said. ``It’s been down to the wire. So far, early in the season, the luck hasn’t went our way. It’s went the other way. Sixty-two games left. We’re not down on ourselves.’’ Miami played virtually the entire second half without a center. Alonzo Mourning was ejected after picking up his second technical foul 25 seconds after halftime, and neither Michael Doleac nor Earl Barron - Miami’s backup centers - played in the game. Plus, Shaquille O’Neal missed his 18th game with a sprained ankle. ``Referees are human. I’m human,’’ Mourning said. ``I made a mistake. I’ve got to learn to control my emotions out there, regardless if I feel there’s some discrepancy in the calls. Bottom line is, they’ve got the whistle. They’ve got the final say.’’ Notes: Anthony took 19 shots by halftime, exceeding his total from 14 of the season’s first 18 games. ... Both teams missed starters - Kenyon Martin for Denver, Jason Williams for Miami - with knee tendinitis. ... Magic Johnson sat next to Heat president Pat Riley in the stands. ... Walker was in a 4-for-32 slump before a 5-for-5 second quarter. He also hit his first shot of the second half. ... Wade’s previous season high was 33 points against the Knicks. Anthony’s season high was 35 against the Clippers. Denver Nuggets - Miami Heat Goals Total 1 2 3 OT Shootout Denver Nuggets 100 Miami Heat 92