Raptors go cold as Heat extend streak
Once the Toronto Raptors lost their cool, they lost any chance of ending the Miami Heat’s home winning streak.
Shaquille O’Neal had 28 points and Dwyane Wade added 27, leading the Heat to a 103-91 win Tuesday night at Miami, in a game marred by the fourth-quarter ejections of Raptors forward Morris Peterson and coach Sam Mitchell.
Damon Jones added 14 for Miami, which trailed by two with 10 minutes remaining before outscoring the Raptors 24-10 down the stretch and extending its franchise-best home winning streak to 17 games.
Rafer Alston had 19 points and Chris Bosh had a 16-point, 13-rebound game for the Raptors, who also got 15 points from Peterson.
Eric Williams’ 3-pointer with 10:12 left gave Toronto an 81-79 lead, but the Raptors missed their next eight shots and the Heat took advantage. Wade’s spinning layup with 8:01 left tied the game, and the Heat, who moved 10 games ahead of Detroit in the Eastern Conference standings, never trailed again.
Peterson was called for fouling Wade on a drive down the lane with 3:46 left, and the two got tangled up and exchanged words. Peterson was hit with a double technical and tossed his jersey into the stands behind the Raptors’ bench as he left the floor. Wade also drew one technical foul.
Mitchell was thrown out with 1:47 remaining after arguing a foul called against Jalen Rose, who clearly tried to trip Eddie Jones under the basket after the two battled for a rebound.
Lakers 117, Knicks 107: At Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant scored 20 of his 32 points in the second half to beat road-weary New York as Los Angeles broke its eight-game losing streak.
New York’s Stephon Marbury had a season-high 45 points, six rebounds and 10 assists in defeat.
Cavaliers 94, Clippers 84: At Cleveland, LeBron James, playing on a sore left ankle, scored 22 points in leading Cleveland past Los Angeles.
James shot just 7 for 20 from the field, but he hit two key 3-pointers down the stretch.
The Cavaliers won on consecutive nights for the first time since Nov. 26-27 and moved closer in the race for home-court advantage in the playoffs.
Man involved in brawl pleads no contest
A fan charged with throwing a chair during one of the worst brawls in U.S. sports history pleaded no contest in Pontiac, Mich., to a felony assault count.
Bryant Jackson was the only one of the 13 players and fans charged with a felony for their alleged role in the Nov. 19 melee during an Indiana Pacers-Detroit Pistons game at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Rae Lee Chabot indicated she would sentence Jackson to up to three months in jail, but he could get probation if he expresses remorse at the sentencing hearing May 3.
Off the court
Qyntel Woods, waived by Portland earlier this season after two suspensions – one for violating the NBA’s drug policy and another after he was charged with animal abuse – was activated by the Miami Heat. … Orlando Magic point guard Jameer Nelson could miss a maximum of two weeks after an MRI exam showed a torn muscle in his rib cage.