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Tuesday, Apr. 4 7:30pm ET
Heat move within 2 games of East lead | |||||
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
MIAMI (AP) -- The Heat started slowly, but finished fast. Miami outscored Cleveland 31-6 on fast-break opportunities Tuesday night on the way to a 111-85 rout of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
"We started off well, then they picked up the pressure and we kind of folded," Cavaliers guard Andre Miller said. Tim Hardaway had 14 points and 10 assists. Jamal Mashburn scored 17 points and Alonzo Mourning added 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Heat, who used a 40-12 run in the second and third quarters to pull away. The Heat, who moved within two games of Indiana for the Eastern Conference lead, completed a sweep of the three-game season series. They have beaten the Cavs eight straight since Jan. 26, 1998. "We didn't want to come out and have a letdown," Hardaway said. "We came out a little flat in the beginning, but in the second quarter we came out like gangbusters." Miami's 107-73 lead with 2:15 left was its largest of the season and the 26-point margin of victory matched a season high set against Boston (115-89) on Jan. 26. Cleveland shot 61.9 percent in the first quarter and led 44-38 midway through the second quarter. Four turnovers in 1:40 sparked Miami's game-turning run that ended with a 3-pointer by Mashburn to give Miami a 78-56 lead with 5:11 left in the third quarter. "The press threw us off balance and did what it was supposed to do," Cleveland forward Danny Ferry said. "They turned it up and we didn't respond. We got a little rattled. They gained momentum completely and it kind of snowballed." Hardaway had five assists and a 3-pointer and Mourning scored nine points during the spurt. "They had nothing to gain and we had everything to lose," Hardaway said. "That's why this was very important to us. We're still hoping to catch Indiana. It seems like we've been chasing them all year." The Heat outscored Cleveland a season-high 31-6 on fast-break points and 63-32 in the second and third quarters. Miami's 32 points off turnovers was a season high. "It makes me happy," Cavaliers coach Randy Wittman responded sarcastically. "We threw the ball away and allowed them to get back. When you lose your edge, that transfers into everything, including getting back in transition." Cleveland was 13-of-21 in the first quarter to build a 33-25 lead. Shawn Kemp and Wesley Person shot a combined 6-of-7. Person led the Cavs with 14 points. "Our defense got stronger as the game went on," Heat coach Pat Riley said. "This is contrary to our quick starts and slow fades." Game notesOf the Heat's nine remaining games, the Nets are the only opponent with a sub-.500 record. ... Mashburn has led the Heat in scoring in five of the last six games against Cleveland. ... Alonzo Mourning had his two worst offensive games against Cleveland earlier this season, scoring nine and four points -- his only two non double-figure games this year. ... After the Heat broke the game open, frustration set in as Shawn Kemp, coach Randy Wittman and Mark Bryant received technical fouls for Cleveland. ... Bob Sura, a 69 percent free-throw shooter, missed all three free throws after he was fouled on a 3-point attempt in the fourth quarter. | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Cleveland Clubhouse Miami Clubhouse RECAPS Washington 102 New Jersey 93
Miami 111
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