NBA

The Heat goes on; Sonics clinch spot

By wire services
Published March 30, 2005

MIAMI - Once the Toronto Raptors lost their cool, they lost any chance of ending the Heat's home winning streak.

Shaquille O'Neal had 28 points and Dwyane Wade added 27, leading the Heat to a 103-91 win Tuesday night in a game marred by the fourth-quarter ejections of Raptors forward Morris Peterson and coach Sam Mitchell.

Damon Jones added 14 for Miami, which trailed by two with 10 minutes remaining before outscoring the Raptors 24-10 down the stretch and extending its franchise-best home winning streak to 17 games.

Mitchell was thrown out with 1:47 remaining after arguing a foul called against Jalen Rose, who clearly tried to trip Eddie Jones under the basket after the two battled for a rebound.

SONICS 102, GRIZZLIES 99: Led by Ray Allen and Jerome James with 22 points each, Seattle clinched a Western Conference playoff berth at Memphis.

The Sonics were without Rashard Lewis, their second-leading scorer, who sat out with a right foot injury, and reserve forward Danny Fortson, who is recovering from a left ankle sprain.

CAVS 94, CLIPPERS 84: At Cleveland, LeBron James, playing on a sore left ankle, scored 22 points in leading Cleveland. The Cavaliers were coming off a one-point overtime win Monday in New Orleans and won on consecutive nights for the first time since Nov. 26-27 and moved closer in the race for home-court advantage in the playoffs.

NO CONTEST: A fan charged with throwing a chair during one of the worst brawls in U.S. sports history pleaded no contest Tuesday to a felony assault count in Pontiac, Mich.

Bryant Jackson was the only one of the 13 players and fans charged with a felony for their alleged roles in the Nov. 19 melee during an Indiana Pacers-Detroit Pistons game at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Rae Lee Chabot indicated she would sentence Jackson to up to three months in jail, but he could get probation if he expresses remorse at the sentencing hearing May 3.

[Last modified March 30, 2005, 01:04:14]