Bobcats rally, snap Heat’s win streak
March 9, 2010
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)—Stephen Jackson(notes) scored 17 points, Raymond Felton(notes) added 15points and 11 assists, and the Charlotte Bobcats used a fourth-quarter comebackto beat the Miami Heat 83-78 on Tuesday night in a key game for playoffpositioning in the Eastern Conference.
The Bobcats (31-31) reached .500 at the latest point in their six-yearhistory and moved into a tie with Miami (32-32) as they both tangle with Chicagofor the last two playoff spots.
Charlotte moved to 3-0 against Miami and clinched the tiebreaker by rallyingfrom nine points down with 9 minutes left.
Charlotte Bobcats guard D.J. A… AP – Mar 9, 9:44 pm EST Charlotte Bobcats guard Raymon… AP – Mar 9, 9:43 pm EST
Miami Heat forward Udonis Hasl… AP – Mar 9, 9:38 pm EST
Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade(n… AP – Mar 9, 8:26 pm EST
Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade(n… AP – Mar 9, 8:25 pm EST
Charlotte Bobcats forward Gera… AP – Mar 9, 8:24 pm EST
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Dwyane Wade(notes) scored 27 points, but passed up a tying shot in the finalminute, then clanged a tying 3-point attempt in the final seconds for the Heat,who had their three-game winning streak snapped.
Trailing 80-78 in the final minute, Miami forced a shot clock violation andWade then got the ball at the top of the circle. He whipped a pass into thecorner for Udonis Haslem(notes), who missed a baseline jumper.
Felton then hit just 1-of-2 free throws with 7.2 seconds left, giving Miamianother chance. But Wade’s 3 in the left corner bounced off the rim.
The Heat fell apart offensively, managing 12 points in the fourth quarterand 30 in the second half after a quick start gave them a 14-point lead.
The Bobcats, who won their third straight—all at home—recovered from asluggish start.
Down by 13 midway through the third quarter and 72-63 early in the fourth,the Bobcats stormed back behind D.J. Augustin(notes). His four-point play and four freethrows in an 8-0 run cut the lead to one.
After three failed chances with the ball down a point, Felton drained a3-pointer with 3:32 left to give Charlotte its first lead since 6-4.
Charlotte was able to hold on despite just eight points on 3-of-11 shootingfrom Gerald Wallace(notes), who did grab 17 rebounds. Felton committed only threeturnovers and outplayed Miami’s backcourt.
Carlos Arroyo(notes) again got the start at point guard for Miami, while coach ErikSpoelstra said before the game the team still hadn’t heard from Rafer Alston(notes)outside text messaging.
Alston, who was benched from Thursday’s win over the Lakers, failed to showfor Saturday’s game against the Hawks and was suspended indefinitely.
Spoelstra wouldn’t say if Alston will be released, but said the Heat are“moving forward with the guys we have in this locker room.”
That combination looked pretty good early.
With Jermaine O’Neal(notes) dominating Theo Ratliff(notes) inside and Wade scoring onnifty drives, Miami led 48-34 before Charlotte closed the first half with fivestraight points.
About the only amusing first-half moment for Charlotte’s home crowd wasduring the game’s first timeout. Curly Neal, in town to promote an upcomingvisit by the Harlem Globetrotters, came over to embrace Bobcats owner-to-beMichael Jordan.
Attending his fourth straight game since agreeing to buy the club, Jordangrinned and slapped some high-fives after Charlotte improved to 23-8 at home.
O’Neal finished with 19 points, but wasn’t as effective in the second half,while Wade needed 26 shots to get his points.
Michael Beasley(notes) had 11 points and nine rebounds, but played only threeminutes in the fourth quarter.
NOTES: Bobcats coach Larry Brown denied an SI.com report that he inquiredabout the Clippers’ coaching job while concerned Jordan’s ownership bid mightfail. Asked if he was committed to Charlotte long-term, Brown replied, “It’s upto Michael.” … Brown said he hasn’t talked with Allen Iverson(notes), who left the76ers amid reports of personal problems, in three weeks. “I’m concerned he’snot in the league. I’m concerned his wife filed for divorce,” Brown said.“It’s not an easy thing to hear about.” … Spoelstra said he immediatelythought of Hank Gathers when he watched Detroit’s Rodney Stuckey(notes) collapse lastweek. “I shuddered and it immediately brought back many horrible memories,”said Spoelstra, who played in the game Gathers collapsed and died in 20 yearsago.
