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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
ESPN.com news services
MIAMI -- Rick Pitino needed a day off after the latest loss
by the Boston Celtics. At the end of his 24-hour hiatus, Pitino reportedly will announce his resignation.
|  | | Rick Pitino watched the Celtics get blown out Saturday in Miami. |
Pitino, frustrated by his team's lackluster play, decided to
leave the Celtics for at least one day after they lost their fifth
straight game, 112-86, to the Miami Heat on Saturday night.
The Providence Journal-Bulletin, citing an unidentified source close to Pitino, reported that the coach had reached a settlement deal with the team
and would announce his resignation Monday. Assistant Jim O'Brien would take
over the team, the paper said.
The Boston Globe reported Sunday that Pitino will announce his
resignation Monday.
While the Celtics planned to fly home Saturday night, Pitino
said he would stay in Miami with his wife to do some "soul
searching."
"No, I have not resigned, but I am going to take a day off
(Sunday)," Pitino had told media in Miami after the game. "It has been a while since I remember
having a day off. My wife is coming down and we are going to spend
the day together and I'm going to do a little thinking.
"It's safe to say that I will have a decision after the day
off."
Pitino is the second coach to take a leave of absence from his
team this season. Philadelphia coach Larry Brown left the team last
month for two days before returning.
Pitino has said since late last season, his third consecutive
losing season, that 2000-01 would be his last in Boston if he
doesn't see improvement.
The Celtics have lost 11 of their last 14 and have allowed 100
or more points in nine of those games, with eight of them defeats.
Pitino is 102-146 in 3½ seasons in Boston.
"What I'm looking for is defensive improvement, but you can see
by the way they scored tonight that it's not there," Pitino said.
"The effort is there, but the defensive improvement isn't."
Earlier this week, Pitino revealed that he put his Boston
townhouse up for sale, although he said his decision to sell had
nothing to do with the Celtics. He said his family didn't need as
big a house with his son, Richard, leaving for college next year.
Heat coach Pat Riley said he hopes Pitino sticks around.
"If he decides to leave, there is not a coach in the NBA who
cares more and puts more into the game than he does," Riley said.
"He developed a first-class organization up there. The players get
everything they want and need.
"If, in fact, it does happen, I think it is a shame because he
is a credit to the game."
Tim Hardaway had 24 points and 10 assists as the Heat had their
biggest offensive output of the season.
The Heat, who have won six straight home games and seven of
eight overall, have topped 100 points five times in 35 games. Their
previous high came in a 110-102 overtime win over Detroit on Dec.
30.
Antoine Walker scored 26 points and Paul Pierce added 20 for the
Celtics, who have lost 11 of their last 14.
The Celtics sounded as if they might have seen their coach for
the last time.
"I don't know what his decision is going to be. All I know is
that I feel that I didn't fight for him tonight," Pierce said.
"It's always in the back of your mind. It's there when you get
to the arena -- what's going on with the team. At times, it's
difficult to stay focused."
Hardaway finished just two points shy of his season-high despite
playing just 29 minutes. He finished 9-of-14 from the floor,
including 4-of-6 from 3-point range.
Brian Grant had 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Heat, and
Eddie Jones added 15 points. Miami hit 11 of 18 3-pointers and shot
55.8 percent overall.
"I was aggressive, enjoying the game and playing hard,"
Hardaway said. "I've been doing that for the past seven or eight
games, but I haven't made the shots like I did tonight."
Miami cruised to a 58-43 halftime lead, getting 11 points from
Hardaway and eight apiece from Bruce Bowen, Anthony Mason, Grant
and Jones.
The Heat put the game away in the third period, outscoring the
Celtics 31-19 to open an 89-62 lead. Hardaway scored 13 points,
including hitting three 3-pointers.
"We've been stressing finishing teams off in the second half,"
Jones said. "We didn't want to give them the confidence to get
back into the game."
Game notes
The Celtics are 3-11 on the road. ... The Celtics play
their next three games at home. ... Heat backup point guard Anthony
Carter played for the first time since straining his groin Dec. 22.
Carter, who missed the previous six games, scored five points in 19
minutes ... Hardaway committed his first turnover in four games.
Hardaway had gone 93 minutes without a turnover, but that stretch
ended with his only turnover of the night in the third quarter. ...
The Heat's Dan Majerle scored eight points in 19 minutes, his best
game since coming off the injured list Dec. 22.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Boston Clubhouse
Miami Clubhouse
May: Dear Rick, it's time for you to go
RECAPS
Dallas 103
Washington 85
Atlanta 83
Orlando 82
Philadelphia 107
Cleveland 103
Miami 112
Boston 86
New Jersey 97
Golden State 92
Utah 99
Houston 97
San Antonio 108
Detroit 101
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Antoine Walker Official Site
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