GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: HOUSTON (6-6) at MIAMI (2-9)

NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI

<div class="pre">CORRECTION

NBA HOUSTON 81
MIAMI 85 8:53 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI

<div class="pre">CORRECTION

NBA HOUSTON 81
MIAMI 85 5:53 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 86
MIAMI 88 2:58 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 91
MIAMI 98 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
HOUSTON 24 25 18 24 91
MIAMI 26 24 24 24 98 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: HOU - LUIS SCOLA 20, YAO MING 20, TRACY
MCGRADY 19
MIA - DWYANE WADE 31, SHAQUILLE O'NEAL 26,
RICKY DAVIS 12</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
HOUSTON 91
MIAMI 98 FINAL</div>

 

MIAMI (Ticker) -- All Shaquille O'Neal needed to boost his gamewas the arrival of rival center Yao Ming.


O'Neal collected season highs with 26 points and 14 rebounds andDwyane Wade added 31 points as the Miami Heat handed Yao andthe Houston Rockets their sixth straight loss, 98-91, on Fridaynight.


In his customary role, Wade netted 14 of his points in the finalquarter for the Heat, who secured their first home win of theseason.


A 14-time All-Star and three-time Finals MVP, O'Neal has beenone of the most dominant players in the NBA during hisimpressive career. The 7-1, 330-pounder regularly dwarfs allhis opponents physically - including the 7-5 Yao.


But this season, O'Neal has averaged a pedestrian 15.5 pointsand 7.1 rebounds entering Friday's play - fueling speculationthat the 35-year-old's skills have eroded.


Meanwhile, most observers have dubbed Yao - who has averaged22.7 points and 10.3 rebounds entering the contest - the game'stop center. The All-Star big man collected 20 points and sevenrebounds before fouling out in the waning seconds on Fridaynight.


But it was O'Neal who looked energized in this one, showing anaggressiveness that has been missing this campaign. Hisprevious best scoring output was 25 against the Phoenix Suns onNovember 9.


O'Neal established his presence early, scoring eight points in a15-4 run to start the game. He collected 14 points and sixrebounds by halftime and netted 10 more in the third.

But in the final period, Miami was led by Wade, who shot 5-of-9to hold off Houston, which trailed by seven entering the final12 minutes.


Luis Scola collected 20 points and nine rebounds off the benchand Tracy McGrady netted 19 for the Rockets.

 

NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (91) AT MIAMI (98)

HOUSTON

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

T MCGRADY G 41:13 7-20 5-10 2 4 6 4 4 1 3 19
R ALSTON G 26:54 1-6 1-2 0 1 1 4 0 1 1 3
C HAYES F 11:24 1-2 0-0 1 0 1 0 4 0 0 2
S BATTIER F 36:34 3-7 0-0 1 6 7 2 5 1 0 9
Y MING C 35:14 8-13 4-4 2 5 7 2 6 0 1 20
L SCOLA 36:20 10-16 0-0 4 5 9 3 5 1 2 20
M JAMES 17:18 3-8 0-0 0 0 0 3 1 1 1 8
B WELLS 13:10 1-5 3-4 0 3 3 0 1 0 0 5
D MUTOMBO 11:41 0-1 1-2 3 2 5 0 1 0 0 1
L HEAD 10:12 2-4 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 4

TOTALS 240:00 36-82 14-22 13 26 39 19 27 5 9 91
(.439) (.636) TEAM REBS: 12 TOTAL TO: 10 (0 PTS)

MIAMI

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

D WADE G 42:20 11-24 9-13 2 1 3 5 1 1 5 31
J WILLIAMS G 44:35 2-6 0-0 0 4 4 5 0 0 0 6
U HASLEM F 38:56 4-8 3-4 0 8 8 1 2 1 0 11
R DAVIS F 36:10 4-9 3-5 0 2 2 4 4 0 0 12
S O'NEAL C 34:03 10-12 6-12 4 10 14 2 4 2 6 26
P HARDAWAY 22:00 2-2 0-0 0 1 1 0 3 2 1 4
M BLOUNT 11:44 1-1 1-2 0 2 2 0 0 1 0 3
A MOURNING 10:12 2-3 1-2 0 1 1 0 5 0 1 5

TOTALS 240:00 36-65 23-38 6 29 35 17 19 7 13 98
(.554) (.605) TEAM REBS: 12 TOTAL TO: 13 (0 PTS)

HOUSTON 24 25 18 24 - 91
MIAMI 26 24 24 24 - 98

BLOCKED SHOTS: HOUSTON - T MCGRADY, L HEAD, L SCOLA, Y MING. MIAMI -
S O'NEAL 3, D WADE 2.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: HOUSTON 5-18 (.278), T MCGRADY 0-4, R ALSTON 0-
3, S BATTIER 3-7, M JAMES 2-3, L HEAD 0-1. MIAMI 3-8 (.375), D WADE 0-
1, J WILLIAMS 2-5, R DAVIS 1-2.
TECHNICAL FOULS: HOUSTON - B WELLS. MIAMI - U HASLEM, M BLOUNT.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BOB DELANEY, MONTY MCCUTCHEN, ORLANDIS POOLE.
A - 19,600. T - 2:40.</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (91)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
T McGrady 41:13 7-20 5-10 2-6 4 4 19
R Alston 26:54 1-6 1-2 0-1 4 0 3
C Hayes 11:24 1-2 0-0 1-1 0 4 2
S Battier 36:34 3-7 0-0 1-7 2 5 9
Y Ming 35:14 8-13 4-4 2-7 2 6 20
L Scola 36:20 10-16 0-0 4-9 3 5 20
M James 17:18 3-8 0-0 0-0 3 1 8
B Wells 13:10 1-5 3-4 0-3 0 1 5
D Mutombo 11:41 0-1 1-2 3-5 0 1 1
L Head 10:12 2-4 0-0 0-0 1 0 4

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 36-82 14-22 13-39 19 27 91
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.439, FT-.636. 3-Point Goals:
5-18, .278 (T McGrady 0-4, R Alston 0-3, S
Battier 3-7, M James 2-3, L Head 0-1). Team
Rebounds: 12. Blocked Shots:4 (T McGrady, L
Head, L Scola, Y Ming). Turnovers:9 (T
McGrady 3, L Scola 2, R Alston, Y Ming, M
James, L Head). Steals: 5 (T McGrady, R
Alston, S Battier, M James, L Scola).


MIAMI (98)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
D Wade 42:20 11-24 9-13 2-3 5 1 31
J Williams 44:35 2-6 0-0 0-4 5 0 6
U Haslem 38:56 4-8 3-4 0-8 1 2 11
R Davis 36:10 4-9 3-5 0-2 4 4 12
S O'Neal 34:03 10-12 6-12 4-14 2 4 26
P Hardaway 22:00 2-2 0-0 0-1 0 3 4
M Blount 11:44 1-1 1-2 0-2 0 0 3
A Mourning 10:12 2-3 1-2 0-1 0 5 5

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 36-65 23-38 6-35 17 19 98
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.554, FT-.605. 3-Point Goals:
3-8, .375 (D Wade 0-1, J Williams 2-5, R
Davis 1-2). Team Rebounds: 12. Blocked
Shots:5 (S O'Neal 3, D Wade 2). Turnovers:13
(S O'Neal 6, D Wade 5, P Hardaway, A
Mourning). Steals: 7 (P Hardaway 2, S O'Neal
2, M Blount, D Wade, U Haslem).

-------------------------------------------
HOUSTON 24 25 18 24 - 91
MIAMI 26 24 24 24 - 98
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Houston - 1 (B Wells, 0:56
1st). Miami - 2 (U Haslem, 5:07 1st; M
Blount, 5:24 4th).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 19,600. T: 2:40.
Officials: Bob Delaney, Monty McCutchen,
Orlandis Poole.</div>

 

MIAMI (Ticker) -- All Shaquille O'Neal needed to boost his gamewas the arrival of rival center Yao Ming.


O'Neal collected season highs with 26 points and 14 rebounds andDwyane Wade added a season-best 31 points as the Miami Heathanded Yao and the Houston Rockets their sixth straight loss,98-91, on Friday night.


In his customary role, Wade netted 14 of his points in the finalquarter for the Heat, who secured their first home win of theseason.


A 14-time All-Star and three-time Finals MVP, O'Neal has beenone of the most dominant players in the NBA during hisimpressive career. The 7-1, 330-pounder regularly dwarfs allhis opponents physically - including the 7-5 Yao .

"When we play against them, he really plays well the wholegame," Yao said. "I felt like he was playing the same as myrookie year. He sent a very strong message and dominated thegame."


But this season, O'Neal has averaged a pedestrian 15.5 pointsand 7.1 rebounds entering Friday's play - fueling speculationthat the 35-year-old's skills have eroded.


"I think Shaq has been affected like I have and like the teamhas by our overall poor play as a team," Heat coach Pat Rileysaid. "He's taken to heart that the team is not doing well andnow we can't wait until January."


Meanwhile, most observers have dubbed Yao - who has averaged22.7 points and 10.3 rebounds entering the contest - the game'stop center. The All-Star big man collected 20 points and sevenrebounds before fouling out in the waning seconds on Fridaynight.


"He's a great player," O'Neal said. "I think what makes him sogreat is his skills and his height. Most of the time he is justgoing to turn around and shoot over anybody, including me. He'sa great player and a great competitor, I always enjoy going upagainst him."


But it was O'Neal who looked energized in this one, showing anaggressiveness that has been missing this campaign. Hisprevious best scoring output was 25 against the Phoenix Suns onNovember 9.


"The ball has the energy," O'Neal said. "The ball makes me abasketball player. Without the ball, I'm not a basketballplayer."


O'Neal established his presence early, scoring eight points in a15-4 run to start the game. He collected 14 points and sixrebounds by halftime and netted 10 more in the third.

"He played strong, he played great," Riley said. "At thebeginning of the game, he has a lot of energy and we get him offto a pretty good start."


But in the final period, Miami was led by Wade, who shot 5-of-9to hold off Houston, which trailed by seven entering the final12 minutes.


"It was about time," said Wade, whose previous high this seasonwas 23. "Coach always puts me in a position to have the balllate in games, and my teammates have an unbelievable amount ofconfidence in me to help us win the game. I was happy I couldcome through for the guys tonight."


Luis Scola collected 20 points and nine rebounds off the benchand Tracy McGrady netted 19 for the Rockets.

 

NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (91) AT MIAMI (98)

HOUSTON

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

T MCGRADY G 41:13 7-20 5-10 2 4 6 4 4 1 3 19
R ALSTON G 26:54 1-6 1-2 0 1 1 4 0 1 1 3
C HAYES F 11:24 1-2 0-0 1 0 1 0 4 0 0 2
S BATTIER F 36:34 3-7 0-0 1 6 7 2 5 1 0 9
Y MING C 35:14 8-13 4-4 2 5 7 2 6 0 1 20
L SCOLA 36:20 10-16 0-0 4 5 9 3 5 1 2 20
M JAMES 17:18 3-8 0-0 0 0 0 3 1 1 1 8
B WELLS 13:10 1-5 3-4 0 3 3 0 1 0 0 5
D MUTOMBO 11:41 0-1 1-2 3 2 5 0 1 0 0 1
L HEAD 10:12 2-4 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 4
S FRANCIS DNP - COACH'S DECISION
K SNYDER DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 36-82 14-22 13 26 39 19 27 5 9 91
(.439) (.636) TEAM REBS: 12 TOTAL TO: 10 (7 PTS)

MIAMI

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

D WADE G 42:20 11-24 9-13 2 1 3 5 1 1 5 31
J WILLIAMS G 44:35 2-6 0-0 0 4 4 5 0 0 0 6
U HASLEM F 38:56 4-8 3-4 0 8 8 1 2 1 0 11
R DAVIS F 36:10 4-9 3-5 0 2 2 4 4 0 0 12
S O'NEAL C 34:03 10-12 6-12 4 10 14 2 4 2 6 26
P HARDAWAY 22:00 2-2 0-0 0 1 1 0 3 2 1 4
M BLOUNT 11:44 1-1 1-2 0 2 2 0 0 1 0 3
A MOURNING 10:12 2-3 1-2 0 1 1 0 5 0 1 5
S PARKER DNP - COACH'S DECISION
A JOHNSON DNP - COACH'S DECISION
D WRIGHT DNP - COACH'S DECISION
D COOK DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 36-65 23-38 6 29 35 17 19 7 13 98
(.554) (.605) TEAM REBS: 12 TOTAL TO: 13 (15 PTS)

HOUSTON 24 25 18 24 - 91
MIAMI 26 24 24 24 - 98

BLOCKED SHOTS: HOUSTON - T MCGRADY, L HEAD, L SCOLA, Y MING. MIAMI -
S O'NEAL 3, D WADE 2.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: HOUSTON 5-18 (.278), T MCGRADY 0-4, R ALSTON 0-
3, S BATTIER 3-7, M JAMES 2-3, L HEAD 0-1. MIAMI 3-8 (.375), D WADE 0-
1, J WILLIAMS 2-5, R DAVIS 1-2.
TECHNICAL FOULS: HOUSTON - B WELLS. MIAMI - U HASLEM, M BLOUNT.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BOB DELANEY, MONTY MCCUTCHEN, ORLANDIS POOLE.
A - 19,600. T - 2:40.</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (91)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
T McGrady 41:13 7-20 5-10 2-6 4 4 19
R Alston 26:54 1-6 1-2 0-1 4 0 3
C Hayes 11:24 1-2 0-0 1-1 0 4 2
S Battier 36:34 3-7 0-0 1-7 2 5 9
Y Ming 35:14 8-13 4-4 2-7 2 6 20
L Scola 36:20 10-16 0-0 4-9 3 5 20
M James 17:18 3-8 0-0 0-0 3 1 8
B Wells 13:10 1-5 3-4 0-3 0 1 5
D Mutombo 11:41 0-1 1-2 3-5 0 1 1
L Head 10:12 2-4 0-0 0-0 1 0 4
S Francis DNP - COACH'S DECISION
K Snyder DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 36-82 14-22 13-39 19 27 91
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.439, FT-.636. 3-Point Goals:
5-18, .278 (T McGrady 0-4, R Alston 0-3, S
Battier 3-7, M James 2-3, L Head 0-1). Team
Rebounds: 12. Blocked Shots:4 (T McGrady, L
Head, L Scola, Y Ming). Turnovers:9 (T
McGrady 3, L Scola 2, R Alston, Y Ming, M
James, L Head). Steals: 5 (T McGrady, R
Alston, S Battier, M James, L Scola).


MIAMI (98)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
D Wade 42:20 11-24 9-13 2-3 5 1 31
J Williams 44:35 2-6 0-0 0-4 5 0 6
U Haslem 38:56 4-8 3-4 0-8 1 2 11
R Davis 36:10 4-9 3-5 0-2 4 4 12
S O'Neal 34:03 10-12 6-12 4-14 2 4 26
P Hardaway 22:00 2-2 0-0 0-1 0 3 4
M Blount 11:44 1-1 1-2 0-2 0 0 3
A Mourning 10:12 2-3 1-2 0-1 0 5 5
S Parker DNP - COACH'S DECISION
A Johnson DNP - COACH'S DECISION
D Wright DNP - COACH'S DECISION
D Cook DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 36-65 23-38 6-35 17 19 98
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.554, FT-.605. 3-Point Goals:
3-8, .375 (D Wade 0-1, J Williams 2-5, R
Davis 1-2). Team Rebounds: 12. Blocked
Shots:5 (S O'Neal 3, D Wade 2). Turnovers:13
(S O'Neal 6, D Wade 5, P Hardaway, A
Mourning). Steals: 7 (P Hardaway 2, S O'Neal
2, M Blount, D Wade, U Haslem).

-------------------------------------------
HOUSTON 24 25 18 24 - 91
MIAMI 26 24 24 24 - 98
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Houston - 1 (B Wells, 0:56
1st). Miami - 2 (U Haslem, 5:07 1st; M
Blount, 5:24 4th).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 19,600. T: 2:40.
Officials: Bob Delaney, Monty McCutchen,
Orlandis Poole.</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at MIAMI

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON AT MIAMI
NOTE: RESENDING BOX TO CORRECT POINTS OFF TURNOVERS.</div>