GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: MIAMI (1-8) at NEW JERSEY (4-5)

NBA: MIAMI at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
MIAMI 91
NEW JERSEY 87 FINAL</div>

 

Re: NBA: MIAMI (1-8) at NEW JERSEY (4-5)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (FOMW)</div><div class='quotemain'></p>

Sean Williams is freaking AMAZING. It becomes clearer every day that this guy was BEYOND a huge steal in the draft. If his head stays right and if he in fact maintains motivation for this game, he will be an all NBA defender within a couple of years (heck, he looks all NBA right now, even though he tries to block too many shots). And his catching ability is looking better and better as he gets used to playing with Kidd. And to top it all off, he looks like he will have a very potent post game within a few years. I can't WAIT for Vince to run pick and rolls with him. I predict it will be our most potent set play by year's end. And then there's that other Williams that I think will be just as good running high pick and rolls with Sean.</p>

</div></p>

Agreed. I get chills watching this kid play. We got ourselves a lottery pick, and I can't wait to see how he plays 2 years from now. Imagine.</p>

</p>

 

Re: NBA: MIAMI (1-8) at NEW JERSEY (4-5)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jizzy)</div><div class='quotemain'></p>

Again, If Collins had made those FTs, in that situation, we would have had a better chance to win. He was not the biggest reason we lost but he was ONE reason.</p>

</div></p>

I wish I could give you spek' points for sensibility. I just wish other people could stop blaming a loss on one of many minor reasons.</p>

</p>

 

Re: NBA: MIAMI (1-8) at NEW JERSEY (4-5)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JCB)</div><div class='quotemain'></p>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (FOMW)</div><div class='quotemain'></p>

Sean Williams is freaking AMAZING. It becomes clearer every day that this guy was BEYOND a huge steal in the draft. If his head stays right and if he in fact maintains motivation for this game, he will be an all NBA defender within a couple of years (heck, he looks all NBA right now, even though he tries to block too many shots). And his catching ability is looking better and better as he gets used to playing with Kidd. And to top it all off, he looks like he will have a very potent post game within a few years. I can't WAIT for Vince to run pick and rolls with him. I predict it will be our most potent set play by year's end. And then there's that other Williams that I think will be just as good running high pick and rolls with Sean.</p>

</div></p>

Agreed. I get chills watching this kid play. We got ourselves a lottery pick, and I can't wait to see how he plays 2 years from now. Imagine.</p>

</p>

</div></p>

We haven't had a go-to post guy since KMart left. I loved watching us giving it to Sean on the block late in the 4th and watching him get to the line.</p>

</p>

 

NBA: MIAMI at NEW JERSEY

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

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
R Davis 26:35 3-5 0-0 0-3 2 5 6
U Haslem 38:31 2-8 2-2 0-5 3 4 6
S O'Neal 25:44 6-12 6-7 2-5 0 4 18
D Wade 39:01 4-17 15-20 1-6 9 2 23
J Williams 31:34 1-8 0-0 0-1 5 4 2
A Mourning 21:46 5-9 0-0 2-5 2 1 10
D Cook 21:49 4-9 0-0 0-1 0 4 10
M Blount 7:54 0-2 0-0 0-1 1 2 0
P Hardaway 27:06 6-6 0-0 0-2 1 3 16

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 31-76 23-29 5-29 23 29 91
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.408, FT-.793. 3-Point Goals:
6-11, .545 (J Williams 0-2, D Cook 2-5, P
Hardaway 4-4). Team Rebounds: 11. Blocked
Shots:1 (D Wade). Turnovers:14 (D Wade 6, J
Williams 4, P Hardaway, S O'Neal, M Blount, A
Mourning). Steals: 11 (J Williams 5, D Wade
4, U Haslem 2).


NEW JERSEY (87)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
R Jefferson 40:34 4-11 10-11 0-2 1 2 18
S Williams 35:47 7-11 8-10 3-8 0 3 22
J Magloire 21:15 2-4 1-2 0-7 0 3 5
A Wright 43:22 6-10 0-0 2-6 6 3 14
J Kidd 39:20 4-10 7-7 0-8 15 4 16
J Collins 16:35 1-2 1-4 1-2 0 6 3
E Gill 9:05 0-0 0-0 0-2 0 2 0
N Krstic 15:17 2-7 2-2 0-2 0 2 6
B Nachbar 12:18 1-3 1-2 0-1 0 1 3
M Allen 6:27 0-0 0-0 0-1 1 1 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 27-58 30-38 6-39 23 27 87
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.466, FT-.789. 3-Point Goals:
3-10, .300 (R Jefferson 0-1, A Wright 2-6, J
Kidd 1-1, B Nachbar 0-2). Team Rebounds: 11.
Blocked Shots:3 (S Williams 2, J Magloire).
Turnovers:26 (J Kidd 7, J Magloire 6, R
Jefferson 4, S Williams 3, B Nachbar 2, J
Collins, M Allen, E Gill, A Wright). Steals:
5 (J Kidd 2, S Williams 2, R Jefferson).

-------------------------------------------
MIAMI 18 27 18 28 - 91
NEW JERSEY 23 12 26 26 - 87
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Miami - 2 (Defensive Three,
4:05 1st; Defensive Three, 6:15 2nd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 16,797. T: 2:32.
Officials: Joe Crawford, Michael Smith, Ron
Olesiak.</div>

 

NBA: MIAMI at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">MIAMI (91) AT NEW JERSEY (87)

MIAMI

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

R DAVIS F 26:35 3-5 0-0 0 3 3 2 5 0 0 6
U HASLEM F 38:31 2-8 2-2 0 5 5 3 4 2 0 6
S O'NEAL C 25:44 6-12 6-7 2 3 5 0 4 0 1 18
D WADE G 39:01 4-17 15-20 1 5 6 9 2 4 6 23
J WILLIAMS G 31:34 1-8 0-0 0 1 1 5 4 5 4 2
A MOURNING 21:46 5-9 0-0 2 3 5 2 1 0 1 10
D COOK 21:49 4-9 0-0 0 1 1 0 4 0 0 10
M BLOUNT 7:54 0-2 0-0 0 1 1 1 2 0 1 0
P HARDAWAY 27:06 6-6 0-0 0 2 2 1 3 0 1 16

TOTALS 240:00 31-76 23-29 5 24 29 23 29 11 14 91
(.408) (.793) TEAM REBS: 11 TOTAL TO: 14 (0 PTS)

NEW JERSEY

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

R JEFFERSON F 40:34 4-11 10-11 0 2 2 1 2 1 4 18
S WILLIAMS F 35:47 7-11 8-10 3 5 8 0 3 2 3 22
J MAGLOIRE C 21:15 2-4 1-2 0 7 7 0 3 0 6 5
A WRIGHT G 43:22 6-10 0-0 2 4 6 6 3 0 1 14
J KIDD G 39:20 4-10 7-7 0 8 8 15 4 2 7 16
J COLLINS 16:35 1-2 1-4 1 1 2 0 6 0 1 3
E GILL 9:05 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 0 2 0 1 0
N KRSTIC 15:17 2-7 2-2 0 2 2 0 2 0 0 6
B NACHBAR 12:18 1-3 1-2 0 1 1 0 1 0 2 3
M ALLEN 6:27 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0

TOTALS 240:00 27-58 30-38 6 33 39 23 27 5 26 87
(.466) (.789) TEAM REBS: 11 TOTAL TO: 27 (20 PTS)

MIAMI 18 27 18 28 - 91
NEW JERSEY 23 12 26 26 - 87

BLOCKED SHOTS: MIAMI - D WADE. NEW JERSEY - S WILLIAMS 2, J MAGLOIRE.

3-PT. FIELD GOALS: MIAMI 6-11 (.545), J WILLIAMS 0-2, D COOK 2-5, P HARDAWAY 4-
4. NEW JERSEY 3-10 (.300), R JEFFERSON 0-1, A WRIGHT 2-6, J KIDD 1-
1, B NACHBAR 0-2.
TECHNICAL FOULS: MIAMI - DEFENSIVE THREE 2.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: JOE CRAWFORD, MICHAEL SMITH, RON OLESIAK.
A - 16,797. T - 2:32.</div>

 

By Joe Rizzo
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- In a matchup of the twolowest-scoring teams in the league, it was an old duo that helpedthe Miami Heat get back into the win column.


Shaquille O'Neal scored 14 of his 18 points in the second halfand Penny Hardaway's key long-range shooting helped thestruggling Heat to just their second win of the season with a91-87 victory over the slumping New Jersey Nets.


Hardaway scored a season-high 16 points, while making all six ofhis shots, including four from the arc. O'Neal and Hardaway -who played together in Orlando for three seasons - combined toscore 16 points in the fourth quarter for the Heat, who snappeda three-game losing streak.


New Jersey had a chance to tie the game, but Richard Jeffersonmissed a layup with under five seconds remaining and Dwyane Wadegrabbed the rebound to seal the victory.


The Heat had a two-point lead after the third quarter but led bymany as 10 with 5:37 to play after O'Neal's layup. AntoineWright's 3-pointer with 3:24 left capped a 14-4 run that cut theNets' deficit to 83-81.


Wade had 23 points and nine assists in his third game - secondstart - for the Heat, who have both of their wins in the NewYork metropolitan area. Miami broke a three-game losing streakwith its first win since November 11, when the Heat beat the NewYork Knicks at Madison Square Garden.


With Vince Carter's sprained right ankle keeping him on thesidelines for the fourth straight game, New Jersey coachLawrence Frank changed things up, inserting rookie Sean Williamsand veteran Jamaal Magloire into the starting frontcourtalongside Jefferson.


The new starting lineup was energized by Jason Kidd, whoassisted on all seven of New Jersey's baskets in the firstquarter en route to a 23-18 edge after the opening period.

Kidd finished with 16 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds andWilliams scored a career-high 22 for the Nets, who fell for thefifth straight game after opening the season 4-1.


The Heat outscored the Nets, 18-6, over the final six minutes ofthe first half as Miami took a 45-35 lead at the break. NewJersey committed 18 turnovers in the first half and finished thegame with one more field goal (27) than giveaways (26) on thenight.

 

Re: NBA: MIAMI (1-8) at NEW JERSEY (4-5)

Let's pray for this lineup to come</p>

Kidd - Carter - Jefferson - SWAT - Magloire</p>

WE NEED CARTER</p>

 

Re: NBA: MIAMI (1-8) at NEW JERSEY (4-5)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Universe)</div><div class='quotemain'></p>

No matter how you put it, we have lost five in a row since Vince went down.</p>

Who would have thought Shaq would turn Kyle Korver from the line.</p>

Penny turns back the clock on us. Least it wasn't Smush.</p>

</div></p>

eh. so, we lost. I might be the only one but I was *en*couraged a tad. Only saw the second half but Williams will be exactly what we are looking for. Wow! Vince Carter will be back. Krystic will recover sooner or later. Wright has his ups & downs but overall is improved. Magloire tho' he doesn't look like an offensive juggernaut can't continue to suck this bad and he 'bounds. The pieces are there. In a way, I'm glad some players are out. We can look at others. Netsies just need all the horses together and come together as a team. *On paper* NJ has the makings of a good team. Me, I'm looking forward to what develops more than ever. I've seen the Nets lose before.</p>

 

Re: NBA: MIAMI (1-8) at NEW JERSEY (4-5)

We all thought we were going to get blown out tonight, its pretty much what the last couple of pages in the Orlando thread were about (hey, present company included!). It's frustrating to lose like this, but most of us expected to be 4-6 after tonight.</p>

 

Re: NBA: MIAMI (1-8) at NEW JERSEY (4-5)

The offense is too predictable</p>

 

NBA: MIAMI at NEW JERSEY

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

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
R Davis 26:35 3-5 0-0 0-3 2 5 6
U Haslem 38:31 2-8 2-2 0-5 3 4 6
S O'Neal 25:44 6-12 6-7 2-5 0 4 18
D Wade 39:01 4-17 15-20 1-6 9 2 23
J Williams 31:34 1-8 0-0 0-1 5 4 2
A Mourning 21:46 5-9 0-0 2-5 2 1 10
D Cook 21:49 4-9 0-0 0-1 0 4 10
M Blount 7:54 0-2 0-0 0-1 1 2 0
P Hardaway 27:06 6-6 0-0 0-2 1 3 16
C Quinn DNP - COACH'S DECISION
A Johnson DNP - COACH'S DECISION
D Wright DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 31-76 23-29 5-29 23 29 91
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.408, FT-.793. 3-Point Goals:
6-11, .545 (J Williams 0-2, D Cook 2-5, P
Hardaway 4-4). Team Rebounds: 11. Blocked
Shots:1 (D Wade). Turnovers:14 (D Wade 6, J
Williams 4, P Hardaway, S O'Neal, M Blount, A
Mourning). Steals: 11 (J Williams 5, D Wade
4, U Haslem 2).


NEW JERSEY (87)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
R Jefferson 40:34 4-11 10-11 0-2 1 2 18
S Williams 35:47 7-11 8-10 3-8 0 3 22
J Magloire 21:15 2-4 1-2 0-7 0 3 5
A Wright 43:22 6-10 0-0 2-6 6 3 14
J Kidd 39:20 4-10 7-7 0-8 15 4 16
J Collins 16:35 1-2 1-4 1-2 0 6 3
E Gill 9:05 0-0 0-0 0-2 0 2 0
N Krstic 15:17 2-7 2-2 0-2 0 2 6
B Nachbar 12:18 1-3 1-2 0-1 0 1 3
M Allen 6:27 0-0 0-0 0-1 1 1 0
V Carter DNP - ANKLE INJURY
J Boone DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 27-58 30-38 6-39 23 27 87
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.466, FT-.789. 3-Point Goals:
3-10, .300 (R Jefferson 0-1, A Wright 2-6, J
Kidd 1-1, B Nachbar 0-2). Team Rebounds: 11.
Blocked Shots:3 (S Williams 2, J Magloire).
Turnovers:26 (J Kidd 7, J Magloire 6, R
Jefferson 4, S Williams 3, B Nachbar 2, J
Collins, M Allen, E Gill, A Wright). Steals:
5 (J Kidd 2, S Williams 2, R Jefferson).

-------------------------------------------
MIAMI 18 27 18 28 - 91
NEW JERSEY 23 12 26 26 - 87
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Miami - 2 (Defensive Three,
4:05 1st; Defensive Three, 6:15 2nd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 16,797. T: 2:32.
Officials: Joe Crawford, Michael Smith, Ron
Olesiak.</div>

 

NBA: MIAMI at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">MIAMI (91) AT NEW JERSEY (87)

MIAMI

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

R DAVIS F 26:35 3-5 0-0 0 3 3 2 5 0 0 6
U HASLEM F 38:31 2-8 2-2 0 5 5 3 4 2 0 6
S O'NEAL C 25:44 6-12 6-7 2 3 5 0 4 0 1 18
D WADE G 39:01 4-17 15-20 1 5 6 9 2 4 6 23
J WILLIAMS G 31:34 1-8 0-0 0 1 1 5 4 5 4 2
A MOURNING 21:46 5-9 0-0 2 3 5 2 1 0 1 10
D COOK 21:49 4-9 0-0 0 1 1 0 4 0 0 10
M BLOUNT 7:54 0-2 0-0 0 1 1 1 2 0 1 0
P HARDAWAY 27:06 6-6 0-0 0 2 2 1 3 0 1 16
C QUINN DNP - COACH'S DECISION
A JOHNSON DNP - COACH'S DECISION
D WRIGHT DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 31-76 23-29 5 24 29 23 29 11 14 91
(.408) (.793) TEAM REBS: 11 TOTAL TO: 14 (12 PTS)

NEW JERSEY

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

R JEFFERSON F 40:34 4-11 10-11 0 2 2 1 2 1 4 18
S WILLIAMS F 35:47 7-11 8-10 3 5 8 0 3 2 3 22
J MAGLOIRE C 21:15 2-4 1-2 0 7 7 0 3 0 6 5
A WRIGHT G 43:22 6-10 0-0 2 4 6 6 3 0 1 14
J KIDD G 39:20 4-10 7-7 0 8 8 15 4 2 7 16
J COLLINS 16:35 1-2 1-4 1 1 2 0 6 0 1 3
E GILL 9:05 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 0 2 0 1 0
N KRSTIC 15:17 2-7 2-2 0 2 2 0 2 0 0 6
B NACHBAR 12:18 1-3 1-2 0 1 1 0 1 0 2 3
M ALLEN 6:27 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0
V CARTER DNP - ANKLE INJURY
J BOONE DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 27-58 30-38 6 33 39 23 27 5 26 87
(.466) (.789) TEAM REBS: 11 TOTAL TO: 27 (20 PTS)

MIAMI 18 27 18 28 - 91
NEW JERSEY 23 12 26 26 - 87

BLOCKED SHOTS: MIAMI - D WADE. NEW JERSEY - S WILLIAMS 2, J MAGLOIRE.

3-PT. FIELD GOALS: MIAMI 6-11 (.545), J WILLIAMS 0-2, D COOK 2-5, P HARDAWAY 4-
4. NEW JERSEY 3-10 (.300), R JEFFERSON 0-1, A WRIGHT 2-6, J KIDD 1-
1, B NACHBAR 0-2.
TECHNICAL FOULS: MIAMI - DEFENSIVE THREE 2.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: JOE CRAWFORD, MICHAEL SMITH, RON OLESIAK.
A - 16,797. T - 2:32.</div>

 

NBA: MIAMI at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA MIAMI AT NEW JERSEY
NOTE: RESENDING BOXSCORE TO ADD INACTIVES AND POINTS OFF
TURNOVERS.</div>

 

By Joe Rizzo
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- In a matchup of the twolowest-scoring teams in the league, it was an old duo that helpedthe Miami Heat get back into the win column.


Shaquille O'Neal scored 14 of his 18 points in the second halfand Penny Hardaway's key long-range shooting helped thestruggling Heat to just their second win of the season with a91-87 victory over the slumping New Jersey Nets.


"We still had a lot of mental mistakes," O'Neal said. "We had a10-point lead, but they cut it down. I think we should havewon by 10 or 15 points. We have let a lot of games slip awayand, of course, all the games that slip away are my fault."

Hardaway scored a season-high 16 points, while making all six ofhis shots, including four from the arc. O'Neal and Hardaway -who played together in Orlando for three seasons - combined toscore 16 points in the fourth quarter for the Heat, who snappeda three-game losing streak.New Jersey had a chance to tie the game, but Richard Jeffersonmissed a layup in heavy traffic with under five seconds remainingand Dwyane Wade grabbed the rebound to seal the victory after nofoul or basket interference was called.


"I felt like I let my team down tonight with the way I played inthe fourth quarter and then with that last play," Jeffersonsaid. "It could have gone either way, I guess. Someone told methat someone touched the rim, but that's just what happens inthe chaos of the last few seconds. Regardless, I feel like Ishould have made the shot."


"Richard Jefferson was right at the rim," Nets coach LawrenceFrank said. "I don't know if he got fouled."


Wade's drive into the paint with 14.5 seconds remaining resultedin a foul against Jason Collins, although it appeared to be ahighly questionable call. Wade missed both shots, keeping theNets alive.


"We got fortunate at the end," Miami coach Pat Riley said."They had a point-blank layup I think some(one) might havechanged (the shot). We dodged a big bullet and got the win."

The Heat had a two-point lead after the third quarter but led bymany as 10 with 5:37 to play after O'Neal's layup. AntoineWright's 3-pointer with 3:24 left capped a 14-4 run that cut theNets' deficit to 83-81.


Wade had 23 points and nine assists in his third game - secondstart - for the Heat, who have both of their wins in the NewYork metropolitan area. Miami broke a three-game losing streakwith its first win since November 11, when the Heat beat the NewYork Knicks at Madison Square Garden.


"I haven't played basketball in six months," said Wade, who isreturning from a knee injury. "I'm trying to get the enginegoing. I'm not where I want to be, but I am happy to beplaying."


Wade was his old self as the game progressed, continuallygetting into the lane and drawing contact. He was 15-of-20 fromthe foul line, while O'Neal was 6-of-7. Udonis Haslem, whomade both of his shots, was the only other Miami player to getto the line.


"We're a different team when I'm in the game," Wade said. "Iput pressure on the other team."


With Vince Carter's sprained right ankle keeping him on thesidelines for the fourth straight game, Frank changed things up,inserting rookie Sean Williams and veteran Jamaal Magloire intothe starting frontcourt alongside Jefferson.


The new starting lineup was energized by Jason Kidd, whoassisted on all seven of New Jersey's baskets in the firstquarter en route to a 23-18 edge after the opening period.

Kidd finished with 16 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds andWilliams scored a career-high 22 for the Nets, who fell for thefifth straight game after opening the season 4-1.


"We were missing some players, so other people need to step up,"Williams said. "I guess tonight was my night."


The Heat outscored the Nets, 18-6, over the final six minutes ofthe first half as Miami took a 45-35 lead at the break. NewJersey committed 18 turnovers in the first half and finished thegame with one more field goal (27) than giveaways (26) on thenight.

 

By Joe Rizzo
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- In a matchup of the twolowest-scoring teams in the league, it was an old duo that helpedthe Miami Heat get back into the win column.


Shaquille O'Neal scored 14 of his 18 points in the second halfand Penny Hardaway's key long-range shooting helped thestruggling Heat to just their second win of the season with a91-87 victory over the slumping New Jersey Nets.


"We still had a lot of mental mistakes," O'Neal said. "We had a10-point lead, but they cut it down. I think we should havewon by 10 or 15 points. We have let a lot of games slip awayand, of course, all the games that slip away are my fault."

Hardaway scored a season-high 16 points, while making all six ofhis shots, including four from the arc. O'Neal and Hardaway -who played together in Orlando for three seasons - combined toscore 16 points in the fourth quarter for the Heat, who snappeda three-game losing streak.


New Jersey had a chance to tie the game, but Richard Jeffersonmissed a layup in heavy traffic with under five seconds remainingand Dwyane Wade grabbed the rebound to seal the victory after nofoul or basket interference was called.


"I felt like I let my team down tonight with the way I played inthe fourth quarter and then with that last play," Jeffersonsaid. "It could have gone either way, I guess. Someone told methat someone touched the rim, but that's just what happens inthe chaos of the last few seconds. Regardless, I feel like Ishould have made the shot."


"Richard Jefferson was right at the rim," Nets coach LawrenceFrank said. "I don't know if he got fouled."


Wade's drive into the paint with 14.5 seconds remaining resultedin a foul against Jason Collins, although it appeared to be ahighly questionable call. Wade missed both shots, keeping theNets alive.


"We got fortunate at the end," Miami coach Pat Riley said."They had a point-blank layup I think some(one) might havechanged (the shot). We dodged a big bullet and got the win."

The Heat had a two-point lead after the third quarter but led bymany as 10 with 5:37 to play after O'Neal's layup. AntoineWright's 3-pointer with 3:24 left capped a 14-4 run that cut theNets' deficit to 83-81.


Wade had 23 points and nine assists in his third game - secondstart - for the Heat, who have both of their wins in the NewYork metropolitan area. Miami broke a three-game losing streakwith its first win since November 11, when the Heat beat the NewYork Knicks at Madison Square Garden.


"I haven't played basketball in six months," said Wade, who isreturning from a knee injury. "I'm trying to get the enginegoing. I'm not where I want to be, but I am happy to beplaying."


Wade was his old self as the game progressed, continuallygetting into the lane and drawing contact. He was 15-of-20 fromthe foul line, while O'Neal was 6-of-7. Udonis Haslem, whomade both of his shots, was the only other Miami player to getto the line.


"We're a different team when I'm in the game," Wade said. "Iput pressure on the other team."


With Vince Carter's sprained right ankle keeping him on thesidelines for the fourth straight game, Frank changed things up,inserting rookie Sean Williams and veteran Jamaal Magloire intothe starting frontcourt alongside Jefferson.


The new starting lineup was energized by Jason Kidd, whoassisted on all seven of New Jersey's baskets in the firstquarter en route to a 23-18 edge after the opening period.

Kidd finished with 16 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds andWilliams scored a career-high 22 for the Nets, who fell for thefifth straight game after opening the season 4-1.


"We were missing some players, so other people need to step up,"Williams said. "I guess tonight was my night."


The Heat outscored the Nets, 18-6, over the final six minutes ofthe first half as Miami took a 45-35 lead at the break. NewJersey committed 18 turnovers in the first half and finished thegame with one more field goal (27) than giveaways (26) on thenight.