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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MIAMI (AP) -- Coming off the worst offensive showing in franchise history, the Miami Heat rebounded Friday night with one of their best offensive performances of the season.
| | Eddie Jones had his highest-scoring game of the season, with 31 points. He also led the Heat with eight rebounds. |
Eddie Jones had a season high 31 points and Tim Hardaway added
26 as the Heat topped the 100-point plateau for the fourth time
this season i9n beating the cleveland Cavaliers 103-95.
The 103 points were two shy of the season-high turned in by the
Heat on opening night against Orlando.
In a 65-56 loss at Charlotte Wednesday, Miami was held to a
franchise low in points.
"It was a big wakeup call," said Hardaway, who had six 3-point
baskets. "A lot of people weren't happy with what happened in
Charlotte."
Jones and Hardaway, who matched a season-high for points,
combined to shoot 9-of-17 from 3-point range.
"They were on fire," said Cleveland guard Matt Harpring, who
had 15 points, including two free throws that narrowed Miami's lead
to 95-93 with one minute left.
But after Harpring's free throws, Jones, who went 12-for-12 from
the foul line, sank a 3-point basket with 39 seconds remaining.
"Those two guys (Jones and Hardaway) put it upon themselves to
get out of the slump they thought they were in," Cavaliers coach
Randy Wittman said.
Jones added two free throws with 26 seconds left.
The Heat's biggest lead was 13 points late in the third quarter.
But Miami went cold in the fourth quarter, shooting just 3-of-16.
From the foul line, though, the Heat converted 13 of 14 in the
fourth quarter.
"I just wanted to come out and play well," said Jones, who
added a team-high eight rebounds. "I wanted to be aggressive and
attack."
Andre Miller tied his career-high with 28 points for Cleveland,
which was trying to beat Miami for the third time this season.
Jones had 19 points in the first half, including 14 in the
second quarter, as Miami built a 56-52 halftime lead.
"(Jones) was just very serious, as was Tim," Heat coach Pat
Riley said. "When players feel they embarrass themselves with a
bad game, they bounce back."
Miami's halftime point total matched its entire scoring output
from its previous game.
Anthony Mason added 18 points for the Heat.
Game notes Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who sprained his left
foot in the third quarter, will return to Cleveland for further
tests. ... The Heat activated forward Dan Majerle (hamstring tear)
for the first time this season. To make room on the roster, guard
Anthony Carter (groin) was placed on injured reserve. Carter will
miss at least five games. ... Miami forward Don MacLean (foot
surgery) was activated Friday, and immediately served the first
game of his five-game suspension for violating the league's
substance abuse policy.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Cleveland Clubhouse
Miami Clubhouse
RECAPS
Utah 109 Indiana 101
New York 91 Philadelphia 71
Atlanta 78 Toronto 72
Miami 103 Cleveland 95
LA Lakers 108 Dallas 103
Charlotte 83 Minnesota 74
San Antonio 105 Golden State 87
Denver 116 Portland 96
Seattle 107 Washington 87
Sacramento 95 Vancouver 93
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