ESPN Network: ESPN.com | NFL.com | NBA.com | NHL.com | NASCAR | WNBA.com | ABCSports | EXPN | FANTASY | INSIDER

  Scores/Schedules
  Standings
  Statistics
  Transactions
  Injuries
  Players
  Message Board
  NBA StatSearch
  NBA en espaņol
Clubhouses





Friday, Dec. 8 7:30pm ET
Jones sinks free throws, Hawks

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

MIAMI (AP) -- This time, the Heat didn't lose after another of their all-too-familiar home collapses. They had Eddie Jones to bail them out.

Anthony Carter
Heat guard Anthony Carter had a team-high four assists Friday night in Miami's victory over Atlanta.

Jones scored 23 points, including six clutch free throws in the final minute, as Miami defeated Atlanta 80-76 Friday night to reach the .500 mark for the first time since Nov. 18.

Miami (10-10), which beat Atlanta for the second time in less than a week, won its fourth straight game despite blowing a 16-point halftime cushion and almost allowing a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter to slip away.

"To be successful we have to win games down the stretch, and tonight we did that," Jones said.

It wasn't easy, though. The night was reminiscent of recent Heat home games in which they also wasted big leads. Miami blew a 22-point lead against Milwaukee on Nov. 28 and allowed a 13-point fourth-quarter spread against Utah to dissolve on Dec. 1, both resulting in defeats.

Miami led 45-29 at halftime, but the Hawks bounced back with a 16-0 run to tie the game at 51-51 late in the third period.

The Heat then closed the period on a 6-0 run, getting a pair of baskets from Bruce Bowen and a fast-break layup from Jones to open a 57-51 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Miami outscored Atlanta 12-6 to begin the fourth period and led 69-56 on a jump shot by Anthony Carter.

Atlanta closed to 74-72 on a dunk by Dikembe Mutombo, but Jones helped seal it for Miami by knocking down six straight free throws in the final 31 seconds.

"I don't mind going to the line with the game on the line," Jones said. "I like having the pressure on my shoulders."

Cedric Ceballos scored 16 points for Miami in his best game since joining the Heat last month. Brian Grant scored 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for his 12th double-double of the season.

Alan Henderson led Atlanta with 22 points, and Jason Terry followed with 17.

With Miami clinging to a 74-72 lead, Henderson was called for a loose-ball foul against Jones. It came after Bowen drove the lane and missed.

Jones then sank two free throws to open a 76-72 lead with 31 seconds left.

"It came down to a one-possession game," Atlanta coach Lon Kruger said. "They get the offensive board and foul. At that point, it doesn't take much to swing it either way."

Despite getting outrebounded 52-39, the Heat managed a win, partly because of a strong bench. Led by Ceballos, Bowen, A.C. Green and Carter, Miami's reserves outscored the Hawks' 31-9.

"We've really been energized by our bench," Miami coach Pat Riley said. "They've come in and supplied us with energy and taken us to bigger leads."

After a sluggish start in which they trailed 9-0 and 14-6, the Heat used a 30-7 run to take a 36-21 lead with 4:36 left and stretched that to 45-29 at the break.

"They were agressive tonight and you could tell that by the way they forced our (23) turnovers," Terry said. "I'd say them and Philadelphia are the most aggressive teams right now."

Game notes
Duane Causwell started at center for the Heat to give the team moe of a defensive presence against Mutombo. ... Heat shooting guard Dan Majerle, who has missed the first 19 games with a hamstring injury, will decide in the next few days whether he's healthy enough to join the team for next week's five-game West Coast road trip. ... The Heat led 41-27 before starting point guard Tim Hardaway scored his first point. He finished with four points in 27 minutes. ... After racing to a 9-0 lead in the first 3:19, the Hawks scored only seven points the rest of the quarter. ... The Hawks are 1-9 on the road.
ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard

Atlanta Clubhouse

Miami Clubhouse

RECAPS
Indiana 104
Boston 91

Charlotte 92
LA Clippers 87

Miami 80
Atlanta 76

New Jersey 86
Phoenix 84

Dallas 105
Chicago 86

Philadelphia 107
Portland 94

Toronto 108
Golden State 92

Seattle 103
LA Lakers 95

Sacramento 111
Houston 98


ESPN.com:  HELP |  ADVERTISER INFO |  CONTACT US |  TOOLS |  SITE MAP
Copyright ©2000 ESPN Internet Group. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information are applicable to this site. Employment opportunities at ESPN.com.