NBA
Scores/Schedules
Standings
Statistics
Transactions
Injuries
Players
Weekly lineup

  Thursday, Jan. 6 7:30pm ET
Mourning masterful against Rockets
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

MIAMI (AP) -- Alonzo Mourning put a dreadful performance against the Vancouver Grizzlies behind him in a hurry.

Mourning, coming off a 12-point, eight-rebound effort in Miami's loss to Vancouver, had 28 points and blocked nine shot in the Heat's 111-99 victory over Houston on Thursday night.

"He was phenomenal," said Houston coach Rudy Tomjanovich, who will coach Mourning in the Olympics. "We didn't have anyone to deal with him. ... He just overpowered us."

Mourning was 12-of-15 from the field as the Heat beat Houston for the eighth straight time.

Steve Francis has 22 points for the Rockets, who have lost six straight on the road and 10 of 13 overall.

The rookie wasn't impressed with Mourning, saying the star center got away with fouls on some soaring dunks.

"He fouled me every single time," Francis said. "I was over the rim. ... I'm going to lift weights tomorrow and get my legs stronger so next time I play him I'll put it on his head five times."

Jamal Mashburn had 19 points and Dan Majerle added 16 for the Heat.

Without retiree Charles Barkley or injured Hakeem Olajuwon up front, Mourning had his way down low against Carlos Rogers and a lumbering Thomas Hamilton.

"I thought Zo was about as efficient as he could get on offense and blocked shots," coach Pat Riley said. "We made a conscious effort to drive the ball, execute the offense and we attacked the rim."

Mashburn and Mourning scored 10 points apiece in the third quarter to help the Heat extend an 11-point halftime lead to 89-67 heading into the fourth quarter. Eight of Mashburn's points came during an 18-6 run, turning a 56-47 lead into a 74-53 rout.

Miami was 14-of-22 from the floor in the quarter and outrebounded Houston 12-6.

"We were beating them on the boards in the first half but they just wore us down," Tomjanovich said.

Shandon Anderson and Walt Williams each had 17 points for the Rockets.

Game notes
Miami outscored Houston 60-30 in the paint. ... The 35-point third quarter was a season-high for that period. ... Houston is 0-18 when trailing after the third quarter. ... Despite street protests by Cuban nationals in front and nearby AmericanAirlines Arena, that led to more than 50 arrests, there were no disturbances involving the Heat-Rockets game. Cubans were protesting the U.S. decision to send a 6-year-old boy back to Cuba. Police cars ringed the Arena as a precaution. ... Dan Majerle's 3-pointer in the first quarter gave him 26 straight games with at least one, the second longest streak in Heat history. Tim Hardaway has made 3-pointers in 33 straight games twice. ... Houston center Kelvin Cato missed his second straight game because of a sprained right wrist. ... Miami guard Rodney Buford needed three stitches in the chin after a first-quarter collision. Heat guard Voshon Lenard didn't play because of a strained groin.

 


ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard

Houston Clubhouse

Miami Clubhouse


RECAPS
Toronto 101
Sacramento 89

Cleveland 90
Golden State 75

Detroit 101
Milwaukee 95

Miami 111
Houston 99

Minnesota 98
Portland 96

Utah 105
Dallas 92

Indiana 102
Denver 87