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Shaq can't miss as Heat stop SuperSonics
(AP)
Updated: 2006-02-26 12:55
MIAMI - Shaquille O'Neal made his first 14 shots, finishing 15-for-16, and
the Miami Heat extended their winning streak to a season-best five games in a
row, beating the short-handed Seattle SuperSonics 115-106 Saturday night.
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| Seattle Supersonics forward Rashard Lewis, right, tries to shoot
past the defense of Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal (32) in the first
half during a NBA basketball game in Miami Saturday, Feb. 25, 2006. Lewis
was the top scorer for the Supersonics with 25 points. The Heat won,
115-106, their fifth-straight victory. [AP] |
O'Neal finished with 31 points despite going 1-for-6 from the line. His only
missed field goal attempt came on a short turnaround with 2 minutes left, but he
hit the follow for a 111-104 lead.
The Heat led 89-68 midway through the third period before Seattle rallied.
Mike Wilks, acquired Thursday in a trade with Cleveland, made his Sonics debut
and twice sank baskets to cut the margin to one, but Dwyane Wade hit four
baskets down the stretch to seal the win.
Wade added 26 points for the Heat, who had 35 fast-break points, 84 points in
the paint and 51 field goals, all season highs. They've taken advantage of a
soft stretch in the schedule, and their next six games are against teams with
losing records.
The Sonics, who lost for the second night in a row, dressed only nine
players. Bryon Russell and Earl Watson, acquired Thursday from Denver, won't
join the team until it returns to Seattle. Nick Collison was in Seattle with his
wife, who gave birth Saturday.
Rashard Lewis scored 25 points for Seattle. Ray Allen, uncertain whether he
would be able to play after sitting out Friday's loss at Orlando with a stomach
ailment, added 21 points. Wilks scored 12 in 22 minutes.
James Posey had a season-high six assists, 13 points and seven rebounds for
Miami.
The teams wore throwback uniforms, with the Heat in Miami Floridian jerseys,
and the game had the freeform flow of an ABA shootout.
The Heat made plenty of highlight-reel plays en route to their big lead,
while the Sonics showed why they're last in the NBA in defense. During one
frantic sequence, Jason Williams fed Wade for a reverse alley-oop dunk, then hit
Antoine Walker for a fast-break layup and a 31-17 lead.
Wade was on the feeding end of an alley-oop when he hit O'Neal on the run for
a dunk. During a second-half skirmish under the basket, Wade hiked the ball
between his legs to O'Neal for another dunk.
The Heat made nine of their first 11 shots in the second half, and a basket
by O'Neal gave Miami its biggest lead. But Seattle outscored Miami 20-4 the rest
of the quarter and trailed only 93-88 entering the final period.
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