<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Eddie Jones' big third quarter helped keep alive a couple of impressive streaks for the Miami Heat. Jones scored 14 of his 18 points in the decisive third period as the Heat pulled away from the New Jersey Nets, 90-65, to extend their winning streak at American Airlines Arena to 12 games and their overall tear to eight. It was the fewest points allowed this season by the Heat, who held the Nets to 29.7 shooting (22-of-74), also a season best. Shaquille O'Neal contributed 15 points and 11 rebounds and Damon Jones added 15 points for Miami, which limited New Jersey to just 26 second-half points on 17 percent shooting (6-of-35). Miami trailed, 48-47, after Vince Carter sank a free throw with 7:28 left in the third quarter. But Miami countered with an 11-0 run, which O'Neal capped with a dunk for a 58-48 lead with 4:12 remaining in the period. The Heat stretched their lead to 70-55 entering the fourth quarter on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Eddie Jones and pushed the advantage to as many as 30 points down the stretch. Carter scored 20 points to pace the Nets, who made just 1-of-11 3-pointers. </div> NBA.com The third quarter hole is what really got NJ out of it. A win against Orlando tommorow is vital if the Nets hope to make the playoffs. Even though a win against the Heat wasn't expected, the way they lost I think is a confidence deflator. They need to snag a meaningful win and if they do it tommorow on the road, it will mean something.
let's put this way, after the third quarter, i just left the TV set to do my homework(in march break). The Nets' playoff hopes are starting to flicker, that blowout was felt by evryone watching that game.
I only caught a peice of the game today, I am really into March Madness mode right now. Plus I wasnt really expecting us to pull this one out, we felll apart against them in the 3rd quarter last week and did the same again this afternoon, us falling apart in the 3rd quarter seems to be a regular accurrance in our recent losses. But anyway they have too much size for us on the frontline, if we make the playofs in a best of seven, I dont really know how we would overcome the difference on the frontline against them, it will be nearly impossible. Anyway, it look like to me that Cliff Robinson was going back & forth with Lil' Jon who was sitting on the end of the Heats bench, did anyone else noticed that in the 3rd quarter?
Ridiculous loss. We need Jefferson badly. Too bad he can come back during playoff time, and too bad my hopes for the Nets making the playoffs are pessimistic.
