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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MIAMI (AP) -- Thanks to the best combined effort yet from Alonzo
Mourning and Eddie Jones, the Miami Heat barely avoided a galling
defeat.
|  | | With 25 points in 33 minutes Tuesday, Alonzo Mourning of the Heat is looking more fit in every game.
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Mourning dunked an inbounds pass with two-tenths of a second
left, and Miami clinched the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference
by beating Milwaukee 91-89 Tuesday night.
The game was meaningless for the Bucks, who relied heavily on
reserves. They had clinched the Central Division title and will be
the No. 2 seed.
Mourning, playing his 12th game in a comeback from a kidney
disease, played 33 minutes, scored 25 points and blocked five
shots, all season highs. He also had 16 rebounds.
Jones had 23 points in his best game since returning last week
from a dislocated shoulder.
"Maybe they're both getting there at the right time," Heat
coach Pat Riley said. "Eddie is back to being a slashing scorer."
Mourning and Jones, who were expected to be Miami's top two
scorers this season, have been on the court together in only five
games. The Heat conclude the regular season Wednesday night at
Orlando.
"I wish we had another month to get some chemistry
solidified," Mourning said. "We've got time working against us,
to tell you the truth."
The Heat's first-round playoff opponent, Charlotte or Toronto,
will be determined Wednesday night. The No. 3 seeding means the
Heat would not face Atlantic Division champion Philadelphia until
the conference finals.
The Bucks will open against Orlando.
"Basically the 82 games are an exhibition for the big show that
starts this weekend," Milwaukee coach George Karl said.
Miami beat the Bucks with a play drawn up in the huddle during a
timeout. With 1.4 seconds left, Dan Majerle inbounded from midcourt
to Mourning breaking to the basket. He outleaped Rafer Alston to
catch the pass and slammed home a dunk over Ray Allen.
"That was a great pass," Mourning said. "It had to be right
on the money."
Glenn Robinson scored 22 points and Allen added 21 for the
Bucks, and each played only 33 minutes. Point guard Sam Cassell
sat out with a sore hip.
"It was good for us to be as competitive as we were," Allen
said.
The victory was Miami's first in three games against Milwaukee.
The teams could meet in the second round of the playoffs.
"Just to beat Milwaukee means a lot," Jones said. "You can't
go into the playoffs with a team thinking they can beat you
easily."
The Bucks trailed through most of the second half, but Robinson
scored six consecutive points to put them up 85-81 with 2:42 to go.
Jones hit a 3-pointer to tie the score at 87. Darvin Ham
followed Robinson's miss to give Milwaukee an 89-87 lead, and Jones
scored again to make it 89-all with 53 seconds left.
Allen missed an 18-footer with 2.6 seconds left, and when
Mourning grabbed the rebound, Miami called a timeout.
Jones finished 8-for-14, including three 3-pointers and several
baskets on drives.
"This gives me a chance to have some confidence going into the
playoffs," he said. "I can start feeling good about myself."
Miami was again without point guard Tim Hardaway, sitting out
the final three regular-season games because of a bruised left
foot.
Game notes
Hardaway is riding a stationary bike and swimming to stay
fit, and he'll likely resume shooting Thursday or Friday, Riley
said. His status for the playoffs? "I believe Tim is going to be
fine," Riley said. ... The Heat need a win in their regular-season
finale for 50 victories. The only time Riley failed to reach 50
victories in a non-strike year was in 1996, his first season with Miami.
... Milwaukee used its 26th starting lineup. ... Bucks rookie guard
Jason Hart made his NBA debut and scored two points in 10 minutes.
He had been on the injured list all season.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Milwaukee Clubhouse
Miami Clubhouse
RECAPS
Toronto 94
Detroit 92
Atlanta 122
Washington 119
Miami 91
Milwaukee 89
Chicago 100
New Jersey 94
Philadelphia 111
Indiana 105
Houston 114
Minnesota 87
Utah 97
LA Clippers 92
San Antonio 99
Portland 93
LA Lakers 108
Denver 91
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