RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
MIAMI (AP) -- Another comeback by the Utah Jazz, another collapse
by the Miami Heat.
|  | | Karl Malone had 27 points and his tip-in of a missed shot by John Stockton with 2.6 seconds left won it for Utah.. |
Karl Malone scored on a tip-in with 2.6 seconds left, and Utah
overcame a fourth-quarter deficit for the third time in four games
Friday to beat the Heat 94-92.
The Jazz rallied from a 78-66 deficit at the start of the final
period.
"You can't get your head down," Malone said. "Down the
stretch we were executing really well."
Utah outscored Miami 16-3 at the start of the final period for
an 82-81 lead, then erased a four-point deficit in the final 74
seconds on Malone's three-point play, a free throw by Byron Russell
and Malone's winning basket.
"I see us play the way we do in the fourth quarter, and I
expect us to play that way for 48 minutes," said Utah coach Jerry
Sloan, who was called for two technical fouls in a span of 33
seconds and ejected with 11:27 left. "We're going to get to a
point where we have to put together a full game."
That's been a problem for the Heat, who have lost five of six
and are just 5-3 when leading at the start of the final period.
They blew a 22-point fourth-quarter lead Tuesday in a loss to
Milwaukee, then scored only two baskets in the final period of a
narrow victory Wednesday over the New York Knicks.
"We're playing well enough for three quarters, and we're
absolutely caving in in the fourth quarter," Miami coach Pat Riley
said.
This time the Heat went 1-for-13 from the field in the final
period, with their lone basket scored by Eddie Jones with 5:39 to
go for an 85-82 lead.
"Our defense tightened up a little bit, but they missed some
easy shots too," Malone said. "We were fortunate they didn't
shoot well in the fourth quarter."
Malone scored 27 points and needs 22 to pass Wilt Chamberlain
for second place on the NBA career scoring list behind Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar.
Jones had 25 for Miami, and Anthony Mason scored a season-high
22.
With time running out and the score 92-92, Utah's John Stockton
drove around Tim Hardaway and missed a bank shot, but Malone tapped
it in.
"We had hurt them two or three times on that play," Malone
said. "Stockton was able to get a head start. I knew he was going
to shoot, and I was always taught to try to get the offensive
rebound."
Bruce Bowen threw away the ensuing inbounds pass for the Heat's
23rd turnover, a season high.
"Turnovers in the fourth quarter are what lost it for us,"
Hardaway said.
The Jazz improved to 4-0 on their trip and have won six in a row
overall. They trailed 79-70 when Sloan was ejected.
"It was good riddance, I guess," he said. "I should have
stayed home tonight. They started playing better after I left. I've
seen that before."
The coach had to watch the thrilling finish on television.
Hardaway, Cedric Ceballos and Mason each sank two free throws to
give Miami a 92-88 lead with 2:19 to go. Malone's three-point play
made it 92-91, and Russell's free throw with 42 seconds left tied
the game.
Ceballos missed Miami's last shot with 23 seconds to go.
"We're not executing, not rebounding and not playing good
defense down the stretch," Jones said.
Game notes
Miami's A.C. Green entered the game in the second
quarter, extending his NBA record of 1,126 consecutive games
played. ... Utah's John Starks scored six points, increasing his
career total to 9,999. ... The teams split the season series 1-1.
Miami has never swept Utah.
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NBA Scoreboard
Utah Clubhouse
Miami Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 95
Charlotte 74
Toronto 104
LA Clippers 95
Minnesota 102
Boston 98
Utah 94
Miami 92
Orlando 83
New Jersey 80
Detroit 103
Cleveland 93
New York 91
Chicago 86
Indiana 86
Vancouver 76
LA Lakers 109
San Antonio 100
Sacramento 105
Phoenix 98
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