Sports

NBA

Atlanta can't take the Heat

Associated Press
Published December 1, 2005

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ATLANTA - Shaquille O'Neal was wearing a suit and tie, Dwyane Wade didn't score in the first or fourth quarters and still the Miami Heat beat the Hawks by 22 points Wednesday night.

Apparently there's a long way from first to last in the NBA's Southeast Division.

In the Heat's first road victory without O'Neal, Jason Williams scored 21 to help Miami beat Atlanta 96-74.

O'Neal, still recovering from a sprained ankle he suffered on Nov. 3, managed a smile as the Philips Arena video board polled fans on what ranks as his worst movie. He laughed when his movie Kazaam was the gag gift for a fan during a timeout.

Based on the lopsided score, O'Neal may have more reason to smile if he is healthy when the Hawks visit Miami on Dec. 20.

The win was especially important for the division-leading Heat, which opened a five-game road trip and plays nine of its next 11 games away. O'Neal is not expected to return before the end of the five-game trip.

"One of the things that we were concerned about was playing well on the road, and we have not proven that as a team yet," said Miami center Alonzo Mourning after scoring 14 points with 12 rebounds.

"It's going to take a collective effort, establishing ourselves a little bit better than we have on the road. Because we expect to be there in June. We've got to focus and come together on the road in other people's arenas."

The Heat improved to 8-5 overall - but only 1-4 on the road - since losing O'Neal.

"There were a lot of positives," said Miami coach Stan Van Gundy. "But also, a word of caution: We have to have a more even performance and get our energy at a higher level more consistently if were going to go out on the road and play the teams that were going to play now."

The Hawks, in last place in the Southeast, set a new scoring low for the season.

KNICKS 109, BULLS 101: Jamal Crawford scored a season-high 28, and host New York used a huge advantage at the free-throw line and some strong fourth-quarter defense for the win. The Knicks shut out Chicago for nearly 5 minutes to start the final quarter, scoring the first 13 points of the period to turn an eight-point deficit into an 87-82 lead. New York went 45-for-57 (79 percent) at the line, its season high for makes and attempts. The Bulls were 18-for-25.

Ben Gordon scored 28 for the Bulls, who had their four-game winning streak snapped.

SUNS 109, PACERS 91: Steve Nash scored a season-high 31, including a career-high seven 3-pointers, as host Phoenix posted its fourth straight victory and held an opponent under 100 points for the sixth straight game. Jermaine O'Neal topped Indiana with 25 points and nine rebounds.

CAVS 112, CLIPPERS 105: Donyell Marshall made a key three-point play in regulation, then hit consecutive 3-pointers in overtime to help Cleveland break a two-game losing streak and improve to 7-1 at home. Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 29 points before fouling out in overtime, and LeBron James added 28 for Cleveland. Elton Brand scored 33 and Sam Cassell 26 to lead Los Angeles.

CELTICS 110, SIXERS 103: Paul Pierce scored 32 and grabbed 11 rebounds to lift host Boston. Allen Iverson scored 40 for Philadelphia, but was hounded by guard Delonte West in the fourth quarter and only had two baskets in the period. Kendrick Perkins, making only his third start of the season, had career highs with 12 points, 19 rebounds and four assists for the Celtics.

GRIZZLIES 92, RAPTORS 66: Damon Stoudamire scored 19 and Eddie Jones had 18 to lead a rout of NBA-worst Toronto. The Grizzlies have won three straight and eight of 10.

Chris Bosh had 15 points to lead the host Raptors, who fell to 1-15 after losing their sixth straight. Fans booed the Raptors off the court at halftime, at end of the third quarter and at the final buzzer. Attendance was a season-low 14,993.

PISTONS 93, NETS 83: Richard Hamilton scored 30 and visiting Detroit (11-2) tied a season high with 10 3-pointers to maintain the best record in the NBA this season, one-half game ahead of San Antonio (11-3), which was idle. Vince Carter led the Nets with 27.

WIZARDS 96, BLAZERS 89: Gilbert Arenas had 28 points and five assists, and Antawn Jamison had 20 points and 15 rebounds for his sixth straight double-double in leading host Washington. Jamison has totaled 88 rebounds in his past six games. Darius Miles' 21 points led Portland, which concluded a 2-5 road trip, its longest of the season.

HORNETS 102, NUGGETS 95: Desmond Mason scored 21 of his season-best 26 after halftime in helping visiting New Orleans dump Denver, which was without injured star forward Carmelo Anthony and suspended coach George Karl. Andre Miller scored a season-best 33 for Denver.

"Flop' talk gets Karl in jam

DENVER - Coach George Karl was suspended for two games without pay by the NBA for publicly criticizing officials after the Nuggets' 101-92 loss to New Jersey.

Karl was to begin his suspension with Wednesday night's game in Denver. He also will sit out Denver's game at Phoenix on Friday night.

Following Monday night's loss to the Nets, Karl suggested Vince Carter flopped twice during the game's final minutes. Karl and Kenyon Martin, who was whistled for fouling Carter with 1:05 left, drew technical fouls and Martin was ejected after drawing a second technical during a subsequent timeout.

After reviewing the game tape, Karl acknowledged on Tuesday that the Nuggets did indeed foul Carter on the two plays in question but added that he believed the officials were making up for 14 fouls they called on New Jersey in the third quarter.

Carter said he couldn't recall the first foul but insisted the second one was legitimate. Kenyon Martin, who was whistled for the foul and was ejected after drawing two subsequent technicals for arguing, declined to discuss his views after the game "unless you're going to pay my fine."

JACKSON ON RADIO: Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. will air a weekly talk show with Lakers coach Phil Jackson that focuses on the NBA. It debuts Monday.

[Last modified December 1, 2005, 01:07:16]