ducks
12-08-2005, 09:18 AM
Spurs remind Heat what they are missing without O'Neal
Spurs remind Heat what they are missing without O'Neal
December 8, 2005
The San Antonio Spurs seem to have everything a title contender needs. The Miami Heat don't, as long as Shaquille O'Neal is on the bench -- and they were reminded of that by the defending champions.
Tim Duncan had 28 points and 16 rebounds, Manu Ginobili added 27 points, and the Spurs dominated in the paint in a 98-84 victory over the Heat on Wednesday night.
Miami was a game away from facing San Antonio in last season's NBA Finals, and is considered one of the favorites to play for the title this season. But the Heat don't look like a contender right now, not with O'Neal still trying to recover from the ankle he sprained in the second game of the season.
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"We don't do as good a job moving the ball without the big fella," Heat coach Stan Van Gundy said. "We don't have as many people who can drive and put the ball on the floor."
Besides leaving the Heat weaker offensively, O'Neal's absence hurts their defense. The Spurs took advantage by repeatedly going into the lane for 54 points, compared to 22 for the Heat.
"We have to attack down low, especially with Shaq out," Duncan said. "That's got to be a big play for us."
In other games, it was: the Los Angeles Lakers 102, Toronto 91; Chicago 102, Orlando 93; Milwaukee 88, Philadelphia 85; New Jersey 97, Charlotte 84; Boston 101, New Orleans 87; Utah 95, Atlanta 83; Minnesota 84, Portland 74; the Los Angeles Clippers 84, New York 79; and Phoenix 118, Golden State 110.
At San Antonio, the Spurs also got a season-high 11 assists and 14 points from Tony Parker in their fifth straight victory. San Antonio led by as many as 20 points in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, the Heat again looked like a one-man team offensively. Dwyane Wade scored 31 points, but Miami shot 36 percent as the Spurs were content to contain the rest of the Heat's players.
"It's really tearing on Dwyane right now when he's getting a lot of these offensive plays," Miami's Gary Payton said. "I feel real bad for him because it's just all on him right now. We just need to share the ball so it doesn't wear him down so much until Shaq gets back."
O'Neal took part in halfcourt drills during Wednesday morning's pregame shootaround at the SBC Center. He said afterward that his right ankle was improving, though he wouldn't predict when he expects to be able to play again.
Until he does, both teams realize the Heat aren't on the same level as the Spurs.
"There is a big difference playing with or without Shaq," Ginobili said.
Suns 118, Warriors 110
At Oakland, Calif., Steve Nash had 28 points and 14 assists, and Shawn Marion added 27 points and 14 rebounds in the Suns' eighth straight win.
Raja Bell scored 19 points for the Suns, who extended the NBA's longest current winning streak and snapped Golden State's five-game streak.
Baron Davis scored 28 points before fouling out for the Warriors.
Lakers 102, Raptors 91
Lamar Odom scored 19 points, and Los Angeles won at Toronto despite a season-low 11 points from Kobe Bryant.
Luke Walton added a season-high 13 points and six rebounds for the Lakers, who have won three straight.
Chris Bosh had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Raptors, who fell to 3-17.
Bucks 88, 76ers 85
At Philadelphia, Andrew Bogut's go-ahead putback with 10.7 seconds left helped Milwaukee beat the 76ers for the third time this season.
Michael Redd scored 24 points for the Bucks, who blew an 18-point first-half lead before completing an impressive comeback of their own.
Allen Iverson scored 23 points, but the Sixers lost their fourth straight.
Clippers 84, Knicks 79
At Los Angeles, Elton Brand had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and Cuttino Mobley scored eight of his 24 points in the final 2 minutes.
Eddy Curry had 24 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks, who have lost all seven games they have played against the Clippers at Staples Center.
Sam Cassell scored 16 points for Los Angeles. Corey Maggette, the Clippers' second-leading scorer, was sidelined by a sprained left foot.
Celtics 101, Hornets 87
At Oklahoma City, Paul Pierce scored 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, Ricky Davis added 26 points, and Boston never trailed.
Mark Blount tied a season high with 19 points off the bench and fellow reserve Al Jefferson had 16 points, his highest output of the season.
David West scored 29 points for New Orleans, which lost its third in a row.
Jazz 95, Hawks 83
Andrei Kirilenko scored 14 points and matched his career high with 10 assists, Matt Harpring added a season-high 30 points, and Utah ended a four-game home losing streak.
Atlanta has lost seven straight. Joe Johnson led the Hawks with 19 points.
Timberwolves 84, Trail Blazers 74
Kevin Garnett had 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Minnesota erased a 14-point second-half deficit in Portland.
Wally Szczerbiak scored 19 points and made a key 3-pointer late in the game as the Timberwolves won their fourth straight.
Zach Randolph had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who have lost six straight.
Nets 97, Bobcats 84
Vince Carter overcame a sore ankle and knee to score 23 points in Charlotte.
The Nets improved to 5-0 against the Bobcats, who have dropped five straight.
Richard Jefferson finished with 21 points for the Nets and Jason Kidd added 11 points and 11 assists. Brevin Knight led Charlotte with 23 points.
Bulls 102, Magic 93
At Orlando, Fla., Jannero Pargo scored a season-high 23 points and Luol Deng had 22 to help Chicago snap a two-game losing streak.
Dwight Howard had 17 points and 16 rebounds for the Magic, who lost their fifth straight despite the return of Steve Francis.
Spurs remind Heat what they are missing without O'Neal
December 8, 2005
The San Antonio Spurs seem to have everything a title contender needs. The Miami Heat don't, as long as Shaquille O'Neal is on the bench -- and they were reminded of that by the defending champions.
Tim Duncan had 28 points and 16 rebounds, Manu Ginobili added 27 points, and the Spurs dominated in the paint in a 98-84 victory over the Heat on Wednesday night.
Miami was a game away from facing San Antonio in last season's NBA Finals, and is considered one of the favorites to play for the title this season. But the Heat don't look like a contender right now, not with O'Neal still trying to recover from the ankle he sprained in the second game of the season.
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"We don't do as good a job moving the ball without the big fella," Heat coach Stan Van Gundy said. "We don't have as many people who can drive and put the ball on the floor."
Besides leaving the Heat weaker offensively, O'Neal's absence hurts their defense. The Spurs took advantage by repeatedly going into the lane for 54 points, compared to 22 for the Heat.
"We have to attack down low, especially with Shaq out," Duncan said. "That's got to be a big play for us."
In other games, it was: the Los Angeles Lakers 102, Toronto 91; Chicago 102, Orlando 93; Milwaukee 88, Philadelphia 85; New Jersey 97, Charlotte 84; Boston 101, New Orleans 87; Utah 95, Atlanta 83; Minnesota 84, Portland 74; the Los Angeles Clippers 84, New York 79; and Phoenix 118, Golden State 110.
At San Antonio, the Spurs also got a season-high 11 assists and 14 points from Tony Parker in their fifth straight victory. San Antonio led by as many as 20 points in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, the Heat again looked like a one-man team offensively. Dwyane Wade scored 31 points, but Miami shot 36 percent as the Spurs were content to contain the rest of the Heat's players.
"It's really tearing on Dwyane right now when he's getting a lot of these offensive plays," Miami's Gary Payton said. "I feel real bad for him because it's just all on him right now. We just need to share the ball so it doesn't wear him down so much until Shaq gets back."
O'Neal took part in halfcourt drills during Wednesday morning's pregame shootaround at the SBC Center. He said afterward that his right ankle was improving, though he wouldn't predict when he expects to be able to play again.
Until he does, both teams realize the Heat aren't on the same level as the Spurs.
"There is a big difference playing with or without Shaq," Ginobili said.
Suns 118, Warriors 110
At Oakland, Calif., Steve Nash had 28 points and 14 assists, and Shawn Marion added 27 points and 14 rebounds in the Suns' eighth straight win.
Raja Bell scored 19 points for the Suns, who extended the NBA's longest current winning streak and snapped Golden State's five-game streak.
Baron Davis scored 28 points before fouling out for the Warriors.
Lakers 102, Raptors 91
Lamar Odom scored 19 points, and Los Angeles won at Toronto despite a season-low 11 points from Kobe Bryant.
Luke Walton added a season-high 13 points and six rebounds for the Lakers, who have won three straight.
Chris Bosh had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Raptors, who fell to 3-17.
Bucks 88, 76ers 85
At Philadelphia, Andrew Bogut's go-ahead putback with 10.7 seconds left helped Milwaukee beat the 76ers for the third time this season.
Michael Redd scored 24 points for the Bucks, who blew an 18-point first-half lead before completing an impressive comeback of their own.
Allen Iverson scored 23 points, but the Sixers lost their fourth straight.
Clippers 84, Knicks 79
At Los Angeles, Elton Brand had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and Cuttino Mobley scored eight of his 24 points in the final 2 minutes.
Eddy Curry had 24 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks, who have lost all seven games they have played against the Clippers at Staples Center.
Sam Cassell scored 16 points for Los Angeles. Corey Maggette, the Clippers' second-leading scorer, was sidelined by a sprained left foot.
Celtics 101, Hornets 87
At Oklahoma City, Paul Pierce scored 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, Ricky Davis added 26 points, and Boston never trailed.
Mark Blount tied a season high with 19 points off the bench and fellow reserve Al Jefferson had 16 points, his highest output of the season.
David West scored 29 points for New Orleans, which lost its third in a row.
Jazz 95, Hawks 83
Andrei Kirilenko scored 14 points and matched his career high with 10 assists, Matt Harpring added a season-high 30 points, and Utah ended a four-game home losing streak.
Atlanta has lost seven straight. Joe Johnson led the Hawks with 19 points.
Timberwolves 84, Trail Blazers 74
Kevin Garnett had 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Minnesota erased a 14-point second-half deficit in Portland.
Wally Szczerbiak scored 19 points and made a key 3-pointer late in the game as the Timberwolves won their fourth straight.
Zach Randolph had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who have lost six straight.
Nets 97, Bobcats 84
Vince Carter overcame a sore ankle and knee to score 23 points in Charlotte.
The Nets improved to 5-0 against the Bobcats, who have dropped five straight.
Richard Jefferson finished with 21 points for the Nets and Jason Kidd added 11 points and 11 assists. Brevin Knight led Charlotte with 23 points.
Bulls 102, Magic 93
At Orlando, Fla., Jannero Pargo scored a season-high 23 points and Luol Deng had 22 to help Chicago snap a two-game losing streak.
Dwight Howard had 17 points and 16 rebounds for the Magic, who lost their fifth straight despite the return of Steve Francis.