Miami's effort is futile
Heat manage 54, third lowest in shot-clock era
In a season of misery, the Miami Heat set a new low.
Andrea Bargnani and Anthony Parker each scored 14 points and the Raptors held Miami to the third-lowest point total in the shot-clock era, beating the Heat, 96-54, last night in Toronto.
"I feel real bad for [the players] that they couldn't make a few shots and just get out of the record books but that's the way it goes," Heat coach Pat Riley said.
Miami was just 5 points off the NBA record-low since the shot clock was introduced in the 1954-55 season, Chicago's 49-point effort against the Heat in April 1999.
"We've had four or five games like this this year and when it goes, it just absolutely goes," Riley said.
The Heat set franchise lows for points in a game and in a half (26), and shot a franchise-worst 20 for 78 (.256).
"It was very tough," said guard Chris Quinn, who played a career-high 48 minutes. "It was pretty embarrassing to come out and lose like that."
Toronto's Chris Bosh had 8 points and eight rebounds in his return after missing 10 games with a sore right knee.
"I just wanted to play defense," Bosh said.
Hornets 90, Rockets 69 - Former Houston swingman Bonzi Wells helped host New Orleans hand the Rockets their second straight loss after a 22-game winning streak, scoring 20 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter.
David West, returning from a right ankle sprain that sidelined him for two games, had 23 points and 11 rebounds to help New Orleans (46-21) pull a half-game ahead of the Rockets for the Southwest Division lead and even with the Lakers atop the Western Conference.
76ers 115, Nuggets 113 - Andre Miller scored 28 points and the 76ers spoiled Allen Iverson's return to Philadelphia by beating Denver.
Iverson, playing in Philly for the first time since being traded to Denver in December 2006, led all scorers with 32 points and added eight assists. But the 76ers made the big plays down the stretch.
Samuel Dalembert scored the decisive basket with 32.9 seconds remaining. When Andre Iguodala lost possession of the ball over his head as he fell, Dalembert was there to grab it and turned for a lay-in.
Cavaliers 89, Pistons 73 - LeBron James scored 30 points, moving closer to becoming Cleveland's top career scorer, and the host Cavaliers reminded Detroit that they're still the team to beat in the East.
James came in needing 35 points to pass Brad Daugherty as the Cavs' scoring leader. The NBA's leading scorer will likely break the mark tomorrow when Cleveland hosts the Raptors in a potential first-round playoff preview.
Pacers 102, Bobcats 95 - Flip Murray scored 22 points, and host Indiana beat Charlotte for its second straight win.
Troy Murphy had 18 points and 13 rebounds and Shawne Williams, who had been benched for five straight games, scored 14 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter for Indiana.
Warriors 116, Clippers 110 - Stephen Jackson scored 29 points, Monta Ellis added 12 of his 28 during a 4:36 span of the fourth quarter, and Golden State tightened its grip on a playoff berth with a victory in Los Angeles.
Nets 125, Hawks 117 - Vince Carter had a season-high 39 points and 10 assists and New Jersey moved into a tie with Atlanta for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a victory in East Rutherford, N.J.
Suns 110, SuperSonics 98 - Steve Nash scored 23 points, Amare Stoudemire dominated inside with 26 points, and Phoenix overcame a season-high 27 turnovers at Seattle.
Wizards 87, Magic 86 - Antawn Jamison had 31 points and 11 rebounds and Washington shut down Dwight Howard offensively in Orlando.
Timberwolves 98, Grizzlies 94 - Al Jefferson scored 22 of his 29 points in the second half to help host Minnesota erase a 14-point deficit in a victory over lowly Memphis. 