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O'Neal powers Heat past Pistons
2007-03-03
Shaquille O'Neal delivered a season-high 31 points and 15 rebounds as the Miami Heat held off the Detroit Pistons for an 85-82 home victory on Friday. The 35-year-old center clinched the win with a powerful dunk with 35.8 seconds left that put the Heat ahead 82-80 after Eastern Conference leaders Detroit had rallied from a 22-point deficit. "Word is, they think I'm an old man," O'Neal told reporters after the game. "Pat (Coach Riley) told me this morning to go out and get 30 points," added O'Neal, who was not double-teamed by the Pistons. "I take it personal when people don't double me. It's against my religion to not double me." O'Neal also had six assists as the Heat played their best game since losing leading scorer Dwayne Wade to a shoulder injury on February 21. Antoine Walker added 22 points for Miami. Tayshaun Prince scored 22 points and Richard Hamilton had 20 for Detroit, which trailed 50-28 in the second quarter. The Pistons pulled within four at 61-57 on Hamilton's jumper to end the third quarter as the Heat scored only 11 points in the period. Detroit then grabbed the lead at 74-73 on Prince's dunk with three minutes remaining in the game, but O'Neal put Miami back in front with his dunk and the Heat closed out their scoring with three free throws. Detroit twice missed three-point attempts in the final two seconds that would have forced overtime. *The San Antonio Spurs won their seventh straight game, turning back the Orlando Magic 98-74 at home as Manu Ginobili scored 31 points. *The 40-year-old Dikembe Mutombo had 22 rebounds in the Houston Rockets' 108-97 road win over the Denver Nuggets. *Stephon Marbury had 34 points and Quentin Richardson 30 as the New York Knicks won their seventh straight home game, a 106-97 victory over the Golden State Warriors. *The Washington Wizards ended a four-game losing streak with a 93-92 home victory over the Atlanta Hawks. *Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire each had 23 points as the Phoenix Suns rolled to a 115-90 home win over the Indiana Pacers. *Mike Bibby scored 33 points as the visiting Sacramento Kings defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 116-108. (Writing by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina)
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