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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MIAMI (AP) -- Miami Heat backup forward A.C. Green provided some
needed relief for a starting unit that got off to a slow start.
|  | | Brian Grant and Bruce Bowen of the Heat give James Posey the old one-two under the hoop. |
Green had 16 points and 11 rebounds in a reserve role as the
Heat beat the Denver Nuggets 95-78 on Wednesday night and snapped a
four-game home losing streak.
"We just needed more energy," said Green, a 15-year veteran who had his first double-double since last November. "In the first quarter, the first unit played to a certain level. They got to a certain point. We (the bench) came in and stepped it up a couple of notches."
Miami's bench scored 35 points and played a pivotal role in
erasing a 25-20 deficit after the first quarter.
Six Heat players scored in double-figures. Brian Grant added 15
points, Eddie Jones had 14, Tim Hardaway added 13, Anthony Mason
had 12 and reserve Cedric Ceballos had 10.
Reserve Anthony Carter's 3-point basket put Miami up for good,
28-27 in the second quarter.
"The last three games, the two A.C.'s (Carter and Green) have given us a great lift off the bench," Heat coach Pat Riley said.
Miami has won a season-high three straight games. The four-game
home losing streak was the Heat's longest since they dropped seven
straight in 1990.
Led by reserves, Miami outscored Denver 33-10 in the second
quarter to blow the game open.
"It's constant energy when those guys come in," said Grant,
who added 10 rebounds. "That's what we need. Everybody pulling for
one another."
Denver's Antonio McDyess, who was averaging 33.7 points over his last three games, was held to 15 points -- his lowest total since scoring four points at Utah on Nov. 22. McDyess sat out the fourth
quarter with his right shin packed in ice. Nuggets trainer Jim Gillen said McDyess was kicked in the shin by teammate Voshon
Lenard. The 6-foot-9 forward is not expected to miss any games.
"In the first quarter, we played well," McDyess said. "But in
the second quarter, they were a totally different team. They came
out and played physical and we just laid down."
Green and Ceballos each had eight points in the first half.
The Heat shot 61 percent in the first quarter, while the Nuggets
shot 4-for-13 from the field.
The Nuggets managed just 10 points in the second quarter, the
lowest output the Heat has allowed in a quarter this season. Denver
also set a season low with 35 points in the first half.
"The second quarter was very frustrating," Denver coach Dan
Issel said. "We worked hard and banged in the first quarter. ...
Bottom line is the Heat got physical with us and we didn't respond
to it."
Game notes
The Nuggets are 2-6 on the road this season, and 36-161
away from home since 1994-95. ... Pat Riley is 10-0 against Denver
as Miami's coach. ... Miami's bench has scored 93 points in the
last three games.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Denver Clubhouse
Miami Clubhouse
RECAPS
LA Clippers 93
Washington 88
Charlotte 91
Indiana 88
Miami 95
Denver 78
Milwaukee 109
New Jersey 87
Cleveland 92
Chicago 88
Dallas 94
New York 85
Portland 95
Toronto 88
Detroit 112
Seattle 99
Golden State 125
LA Lakers 122
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