Sonics can’t stop Shaq
MIAMI – Shaquille O’Neal was nearly perfect. Aside from a defensive letdown during a 10-minute stretch, the rest of the Miami Heat were pretty good, too.
O’Neal made his first 14 shots, finishing 15 for 16, and the Heat extended their winning streak to a season-best five games by beating the short-handed Seattle SuperSonics 115-106 Saturday night.
The Heat led 89-68 midway through the third period before Seattle rallied. Mike Wilks, acquired Thursday in a trade with Cleveland, made his Sonics debut and twice sank baskets to cut the margin to one.
Dwyane Wade hit four baskets down the stretch to seal the win.
“You can’t be happy with the whole disposition of our team in the second half, playing with a 20-point lead and not defending at all,” Miami coach Pat Riley said. “We showed very little respect for all the hard work and good play. I’m happy we were able to win it at the end, but obviously we can’t play like that.”
O’Neal finished with 31 points despite going 1 for 6 from the line. His only missed field-goal attempt came on a short turnaround with 2 minutes left, and he hit the follow for a 111-104 lead.
“He was absolutely great,” Riley said. “He did things I haven’t seen him do for a couple of years. He’s got a lot of energy and he’s taking two or three people to the rim. He’s picking people apart.”
Wade added 26 points and 11 assists for the Heat.
The Sonics, who lost for the second night in a row, dressed only nine players. Bryon Russell and Earl Watson, acquired Thursday from Denver, won’t join the team until it returns to Seattle. Nick Collison was in Seattle with his wife, who gave birth Saturday.
Heat 115, SuperSonics 106
| FG | FT | Reb | |||||
| Seattle | Min | M-A | M-A | O-T | A | PF | PTS |
| Lewis | 37:12 | 8-17 | 5-6 | 1-9 | 1 | 3 | 25 |
| Wilcox | 31:12 | 7-9 | 0-0 | 4-8 | 1 | 4 | 14 |
| Petro | 15:07 | 2-6 | 0-0 | 1-4 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Allen | 35:52 | 6-20 | 7-8 | 2-5 | 3 | 1 | 21 |
| Ridnour | 37:46 | 6-16 | 2-2 | 0-1 | 7 | 2 | 14 |
| Moore | 25:19 | 1-6 | 4-4 | 2-7 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| Wilkins | 34:45 | 3-10 | 3-4 | 1-4 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| Wilks | 22:47 | 5-6 | 2-5 | 0-2 | 4 | 1 | 12 |
| Totals | 240:00 | 38-90 | 23-29 | 11-40 | 19 | 20 | 106 |
Percentages: FG .422, FT .793. 3-Point Goals: 7-20, .350 (Lewis 4-9, Allen 2-7, Wilkins 1-2, Ridnour 0-2). Team Rebounds: 5. Team Turnovers: 10 (14 PTS). Blocked Shots: 2 (Allen, Petro). Turnovers: 10 (Allen 3, Lewis 2, Ridnour 2, Moore 2, Wilks). Steals: 10 (Wilkins 3, Allen 2, Wilcox 2, Lewis, Ridnour, Wilks). Technical Fouls: None.
| FG | FT | Reb | |||||
| Miami | Min | M-A | M-A | O-T | A | PF | PTS |
| Posey | 27:53 | 5-10 | 1-2 | 1-7 | 6 | 3 | 13 |
| Haslem | 34:14 | 8-10 | 0-0 | 1-9 | 0 | 2 | 16 |
| O’Neal | 37:11 | 15-16 | 1-6 | 2-9 | 4 | 5 | 31 |
| JWilliams | 32:39 | 4-11 | 4-4 | 0-4 | 9 | 2 | 13 |
| Wade | 41:56 | 11-20 | 4-9 | 2-7 | 11 | 3 | 26 |
| Mourning | 10:37 | 2-4 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Walker | 22:11 | 4-8 | 0-0 | 2-9 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| Payton | 21:31 | 1-7 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
| Anderson | 11:48 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Totals | 240:00 | 51-87 | 10-21 | 10-51 | 34 | 21 | 115 |
Percentages: FG .586, FT .476. 3-Point Goals: 3-18, .167 (Posey 2-6, J.Williams 1-6, Walker 0-2, Payton 0-4). Team Rebounds: 9. Team Turnovers: 15 (18 PTS). Blocked Shots: 9 (O’Neal 4, Mourning 3, Wade, Posey). Turnovers: 15 (Wade 3, Walker 3, J.Williams 3, Haslem 2, O’Neal 2, Payton 2). Steals: 5 (Payton 2, Anderson, Posey, J.Williams). Technical Fouls: Defensive Three Second, 10:51 first; Payton, 8:45 second.
| Seattle | 27 | 26 | 35 | 18—106 |
| Miami | 39 | 29 | 25 | 22—115 |
A—20,255 (19,600).