Heat Snag Mashburn

Around the NBA

The Miami Heat acquired forward Jamal Mashburn from the Dallas Mavericks for three players on Friday. It was a typical Pat Riley midseason trade designed to improve a team that already has the NBA’s second-best record.

In exchange for the unhappy Mashburn, the Mavs’ 1993 first-round draft pick, Dallas got forward Kurt Thomas and reserves Sasha Danilovic and Martin Muursepp.

“I said if there was an opportunity for a front-line player who was young and longterm I would consider a trade, and I did,” said Riley, in his second season as coach of the Heat.

Mashburn, 24, is in his fourth pro season out of Kentucky. In 37 games with the Mavericks this season he is averaging 10.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Over his four seasons in the league, Mashburn is averaging 19.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists.

New Mavericks general manager Don Nelson is trying to shake some life into a team left dispirited by a 16-30 record and mounting team dissension.

Bulls end Hawks’ home streak

On a night when Dennis Rodman didn’t start, Michael Jordan scored 30 points and the Chicago Bulls ended Atlanta’s 20-game home winning streak, beating the Hawks 89-88.

Atlanta had a chance to win when Jordan missed an 8-footer in the lane with 9 seconds remaining.

Atlanta tried to set up a play for Steve Smith but he couldn’t get free for a shot. Smith passed to Christian Laettner, who missed an open 3-pointer as the horn sounded.

It was the first home loss for the Hawks since dropping their home opener to Detroit on Nov. 2.

Cedric Ceballos scored nine points in a 2:35 span early in the fourth quarter and the Phoenix Suns, pumped up by the return of point guard Jason Kidd, defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 110-93 at Phoenix.

Kidd, 23, acquired Dec. 26 in a trade with the Dallas Mavericks, broke his right collarbone Dec. 28 in his Suns debut against Vancouver.