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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MIAMI (AP) -- It was a great night for the Miami Heat's offseason acquisitions to show off.
| | Turned loose in the Miami offense this season, Brian Grant has had some huge games. Against the Sonics, Grant had 30 points and 21 rebounds. |
Brian Grant had 30 points and a season-high 21 rebounds while Eddie Jones added 25 points as the Heat beat the Seattle
SuperSonics 87-81 Wednesday night.
"I got off a lot of shots early and they were falling," said Grant, obtained in a sign-and-trade deal with Portland. "They kept coming to me, so I kept shooting."
Gary Payton led Seattle with 22 points and Rashard Lewis added
16.
Miami coach Pat Riley praised both Grant and Jones, who was also
obtained in a sign-and-trade deal, this one with Charlotte.
"Eddie did a great job of keeping us in the game with his scoring and defending," Riley said.
Of Grant, Riley added, "He is a power forward who will be one of the best in the league if he continues to work hard."
Riley got no argument from Seattle coach Paul Westphal.
"(Grant) was phenomenal. They unleashed him offensively. He was sensational, not only scoring and shooting the ball, but also in his rebounding. He dominated the game," he said.
Despite the heroics of Grant and Jones, the game was close until the final minute. Bruce Bowen hit five free throws in the final 31 seconds to ensure the victory.
Patrick Ewing had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Sonics. A day earlier, he offered to donate a kidney to his close friend,
Alonzo Mourning, the Heat star who is sidelined for the season by a kidney disease.
Seattle scored 10 consecutive points to cut Miami's lead to
78-75 with 2:22 left in the game. Lewis had four during the run.
The Heat let the Sonics come no closer, however. Bowen hit a
pair of foul shots with 30.9 seconds left, making it 84-78.
After Payton made a 3-pointer, Bowen had two more free throws with 17.4 seconds to go. Bowen added a late foul shot.
Jones scored 10 points as Miami opened the second half with a 14-3 run to take a 58-41 advantage with 7:37 to play in the third period.
Miami maintained a double-digit lead until Seattle scored 13
consecutive points, five by Payton, to make it 68-65 with 10:14
left in the game.
Game notes Bowen had a career-high four blocks. He has blocked at
least one shot in four straight games. ... Payton has scored in
double figures in 44 straight games. He failed to record a
double-double for the first times this season. ... The Heat
extended to 511 their NBA record of consecutive games with a
3-point basket.
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NBA Scoreboard
Seattle Clubhouse
Miami Clubhouse
Ewing says he'll donate kidney to 'Zo if needed
RECAPS
Indiana 108 Milwaukee 97
Philadelphia 103 Detroit 94
New Jersey 102 Washington 86
Miami 87 Seattle 81
Cleveland 99 New York 97
Charlotte 96 Orlando 90
Vancouver 101 Dallas 74
San Antonio 91 LA Lakers 81
Denver 109 Minnesota 107
Utah 93 LA Clippers 87
Sacramento 115 Golden State 84
AUDIO/VIDEO
Brian Grant draws the steal then, soars through the air for the spectaulcar layup.
avi: 839 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Brian Grant bedazzles the Seattle's defense with this circus layup.
avi: 815 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Pat Riley was impressed with the play of his star forwards.
wav: 115 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Patrick Ewing feels his team missed its chances.
wav: 115 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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