NBA

Shaq-less Heat put Wizards in 0-3 hole

By wire services
Published May 13, 2005

WASHINGTON - Knowing his bad leg would keep him out of the game, Shaquille O'Neal pulled Alonzo Mourning to the side during the Miami Heat's morning shootaround.

"I need you tonight," O'Neal told Mourning.

"Say no more," Mourning replied.

The 35-year-old with the transplanted kidney stepped in for O'Neal and played 35 minutes, scored 14, grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked four shots. Sure, he looked every bit his age when he was slow getting downcourt a few times, but Mourning and Dwyane Wade had more than enough Thursday night to lead the Heat to a 102-95 victory over the Wizards.

"I've worked my butt off for this type of opportunity," Mourning said, "and I'm anxious to see the reward at the end."

The Heat lead the Eastern Conference semifinal series 3-0 and are unbeaten in seven postseason games. They can complete their second straight sweep Saturday night.

"We continue to prove people wrong. This is not a one- or two-man team," Mourning said. "We have a lot of guys who understand the goal that we set for ourselves. The reason why this team was assembled was to win a championship."

Five Miami players scored in a 13-0 third-quarter run that swung the game, and Wade steadied himself after committing five first-quarter turnovers to finish with 31 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Former Florida standout Udonis Haslem had 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Wade made 14 of 27 shots and finished with eight turnovers, but Mourning's performance, which included a couple of energetic goaltending calls, was the most inspirational.

"It's fatigue that's keeping him from getting up and down the floor," coach Stan Van Gundy said. "But when it's the moment - and the moment for 'Zo defensively is protecting the basket - he'll summon the energy."

Added Mourning: "I haven't forgotten how to play this game. I just had a transplant that set me back a little bit."

The deep thigh bruise that has bothered O'Neal for weeks finally caused him to miss a playoff game for the first time in his career, ending a streak of 164 consecutive postseason appearances.

ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM: Pistons center Ben Wallace, previously selected defensive player of the year for the third time, heads the squad. Wallace, making his fourth consecutive appearance on the team, was joined by forward Kevin Garnett (sixth time) of the Timberwolves, forwards Tim Duncan (eighth) and Bruce Bowen (fifth) of the Spurs, and guard Larry Hughes (first) of the Wizards.

JAZZ: Jerry Sloan will return for an 18th season as coach and agreed to a contract extension through the 2007-08 season. Sloan, 63, is the longest tenured coach in the four major team sports. He is 943-617 during his career with Chicago and Utah.

RAPTORS: Guard Alvin Williams had surgery on his right knee earlier this week to remove scar tissue from previous operations. Williams, the team's all-time leader in games played with 416, missed all of last season because of the injured knee.

SUNS: Guard Joe Johnson had surgery to repair a displaced fracture in the bone around his left eye and will miss at least the next two games of the team's Western Conference semifinal series against Dallas.

LABOR: Billy Hunter, head of the players' union, said he remains unconvinced of the need to raise the minimum age. Commissioner David Stern wants to raise the minimum age to 20. Currently, it is 18 for foreign-born players and 17 for Americans, provided their high school class has graduated.

[Last modified May 13, 2005, 00:58:07]