Heat tie Suns, Spurs for NBA best record
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-03-16 09:24

Shaquille O'Neal looked at the big picture after the streaking Miami Heat moved into a virtual tie with Phoenix and San Antonio for the NBA's best record.

Miami Heat's Shaquille O'Neal (32) scores as Milwaukee Bucks' Desmond Mason, left, watches, in the second quarter Monday, March 14, 2005 in Miami. [AP]

"I wouldn't say I'm impressed," O'Neal said. "I'd just say that the job is not done. It's not even almost done."

On Monday night, Dwyane Wade scored 29 points on 10-of-12 shooting in just 26 minutes, O'Neal added 21 points and the Heat led by as many as 40 in their 110-71 home victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

"Everyone's clicking at the right time," Wade said. "Our teamwork is great, and it's coming together at the right time — right before the playoffs."

It was the third-largest victory margin in franchise history for Miami (49-16), which has won a league-best nine straight overall and 13 in a row at home.

Phoenix and San Antonio are both 48-15. San Antonio routed New Orleans 112-89 on Monday night, and Phoenix was idle after beating Denver on Sunday night.

In other games Monday night, Detroit beat Atlanta 114-108 in overtime, Washington held off the Los Angeles Lakers 95-81, Houston edged Golden State 97-94, Boston beat Charlotte 119-110, and Memphis routed Portland 104-83.

The Heat, who can clinch a playoff spot with a victory in New York on Tuesday night, are 8 1/2 games in front of second-place Detroit in the Eastern Conference.

Miami has won its last nine by an average of 17.6 points.

"I've never experienced anything like this before," said Eddie Jones, who added 10 points. "I just think it's great. If we can continue to do that, that's great. All we're going to do is continue to get better if we do that."

Michael Redd had 14 points for the Bucks. Milwaukee, 2-8 in its last 10 road games shot 32.1 percent in its most lopsided loss of the season.

"We didn't execute at all," Bucks forward Desmond Mason said. "We didn't step up and play basketball. You can rank tonight as one of our worst outings."

Close

Rockets hold off Warriors 97-94 Figure Skating Championship: Day One Streaking Rockets topple Kings 111-96

Today's Top News     Top Sports News
China's banks tighten grip on property loans         Russia plane crash kills 29; 23 survive         Fixed assets adopt healthier pace         Banned dye Sudan I found in KFC sauce         Air China and Swire deny Cathay merger         Bush picks Wolfowitz for new WB president	Liu Xiang, Zhang Yining voted nation's best       Liang must fight off Monty and Casey for TCL trophy       Shaq, Kobe downplay 2nd Heat-Lakers game       Federer, Hewitt advance at Pacific Life       Heat snag playoff spot by topping Knicks       China fired women's basketball coach