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Thursday, Feb. 15 8:00pm ET
Mason takes control in overtime

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

TORONTO – Tim Hardaway is proving the Miami Heat are an elite team even without Alonzo Mourning.

Anthony Mason
Which way to New York? Former teammates Charles Oakley, left, and Anthony Mason duke it out.

Hardaway had 18 points and 10 assists, and Anthony Mason scored six points in overtime as the Heat beat the Toronto Raptors 98-91 Thursday night.

"Don't count us out," Hardaway said. "We're still one of the best teams."

The Heat, who had six players in double figures, have won three straight and nine of 11. Mourning is out for the season with a kidney ailment, but Miami has the second best record in the Eastern Conference (32-20).

"We're showing everybody we can still play this game," Hardaway said.

Hardaway tied the score at 86 by sinking a 3-pointer with 25 seconds left. He then made an 18-foot jumper in overtime to put Miami ahead 88-86. But Vince Carter, who had a game-high 28 points, retied the score with a jumper.

Hardaway's driving layup with 2:45 remaining put Miami ahead for good at 90-88 and Mason then posted up Charles Oakley for a four-point lead with 2:00 left.

Carter missed one of two free throws, and Hardaway drove to the basket and passed to Mason, whose hook shot made it 94-89 with just over a minute remaining.

After Toronto's Mark Jackson missed a jumper and Oakley missed a 3-point attempt, Toronto fouled Eddie Jones, but he missed both free throws.

Mason made two free throws to clinch it with just under 20 seconds left.

"We were shooting too many jump shots, so I made a conscious effort to go to the hole and make things happen," Hardaway said. "I got people to draw on me and we got easy shots."

Mason finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Jones had 18 points, Brian Grant and A.C. Green scored 14 each.

Grant said Hardaway was the difference.

"He may not put up a whole lot of numbers, but at the end of the game he'll always hit shots for us," Grant said.

After Vince Carter made a spectacular, reverse alley-oop dunk with 1:38 remaining, Toronto's Alvin Williams made a steal, and Carter made one of two free throws to give Toronto a two-point lead with 1:03 left in regulation.

Jones made one of two free throws, and Oakley's long jumper gave Toronto an 86-83 lead with 41 seconds remaining.

Jones then missed a 3-point attempt, but grabbed the rebound and passed to Hardaway.

"I was yelling at Eddie, 'Give me the ball, give me the ball,' and he did and I shot it," Hardaway said.

Carter missed a shot at the buzzer that could have won it for Toronto.

"I can't explain how it did not go down," Carter said. "I guess we were supposed to go to overtime."

Green scored 10 points in the second quarter as the Heat led by as many as 15, but Carter scored eight of Toronto's next 13 points, narrowing the lead to eight.

Game notes
Mourning received a warm applause when he was shown on the videoboard. ... Hardaway scored 10 points in the first quarter. ... Hardaway is averaging over 15 points and six assists a game. ... Toronto outscored Miami 22-14 in the third quarter. ... Davis had six blocked shots.

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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard

Miami Clubhouse

Toronto Clubhouse

RECAPS
Indiana 82
Detroit 73

Miami 98
Toronto 91

Dallas 102
Cleveland 81

San Antonio 102
Washington 78

Portland 105
Sacramento 81

Boston 108
Seattle 88

Vancouver 99
Golden State 89

FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT

Vince Carter Official Site

Mark Jackson Official Site

Lenny Wilkens Official Site


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