Shaquille O'Neal and Dwayne Wade were back in the lineup but the Heat couldn't repeat their strong play against the Knicks and lost 96-94 in overtime to the Pacers in Indiana. Danny Granger scored 11 points in the fourth quarter to erase Miami's 20-point lead and Troy Murphy scored four in the extra session to lift the Pacers. Shaq scored five points and grabbed five rebounds in his 14 minutes while Wade was back to business as usual - 46 minutes, 32 points, eight assists, five steals and three blocks. The Heat are in the Garden Friday night.
- The Cavaliers are reeling after their fifth loss in six games, a dispiriting double overtime defeat at the hands of the Sixers 118-115. It was just the third road win of the season for the Sixers who were led by 34 points by their new A.I., Andre Iguodala, and a double-double by Samuel Dalembert. LeBron scored 13 points in the second overtime and 39, a season-high, overall but it wasn't enough to right the sinking ship in Cleveland.
- It may be destined to be a year of what might have been in Houston. Tracy McGrady has played some of the best basketball of his life, Rafer Alston actually looks like a NBA caliber point guard and it still might only get them third place in the division because of Yao Ming's fractured leg. They did have enough to knock off their statemates in San Antonio 90-85 behind 37 from T-Mac but is there enough gas in the tank without their center?
- 48 minutes wasn't enough all over the Association last night. The Grizzlies snapped a 10-game road losing streak after 53 minutes in Utah, 132-130, on an Eddie Jones buzzer beater. Pau Gasol did a fine job of marketing himself by notching a triple-double and Chucky Atkins had a fabulous 29 points and 15 assists to lead the winners. Deron Williams dealt 21 assists for the Jazz, many to Carlos Boozer who finished with 39 points and was one of three Jazz forwards with a double-double.
- The Nets are having trouble holding onto their leads. They blew a 20-point edge in Sacramento and lost an 11-point advantage in four and a half minutes when Monta Ellis hit a jumper to give the Warriors an 110-109 win. Al Harrington continued easing into his new team by leading them with 29 points.
(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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