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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- Defense won out over offense in the Miami Heat's 97-86 win over the Vancouver Grizzlies on Friday night.
Pat Riley's team was able to establish a defensive tone to the contest, and Miami snapped a four-game road losing streak behind 26 points from Eddie Jones.
"I thought we started the game with a defensive posture and
really got them very quick with our schemes," said Riley, whose
team lost 85-74 Thursday in Portland. "We were stung last night,
embarrassed, really embarrassed by Portland. I don't think it made
any difference who we were playing. I know the guys were going to
make a great effort."
Jones not only led Miami in scoring for the third time in five
games, he held Michael Dickerson to 14 points. Bruce Bowen also
played a strong defensive game for Miami, holding Shareef
Abdur-Rahim to a season-low 11 points.
Jones, who shot 10-of-19 from the floor, credited Miami's
attention to rebounding as a key to the win. Miami, last in the
league on the glass, had a 43-38 edge. Jones got his team off to a
good start with five first-quarter rebounds.
"You know we're not a good at rebounding when I'm leading the team," Jones said. "Coach kind of got on us and said we had to play better defense. "
"He doesn't get much attention," Bowen said of Abdur-Rahim.
"But you have to put pressure on him. We ran double-teams at him
early and they just went away from the post game."
The Grizzlies went away from a post offense because they
couldn't cope with Miami's physical style.
"In the first half it was like men out there playing boys. They
were pushing and holding, and we didn't respond to it," coach
Sidney Lowe said.
"This was the most physical game all year," said Vancouver's
Bryant Reeves, who led the Grizzlies with 21 points in his fourth straight start at center.
"We knew what kind of team they were. Either we don't have it in us to play with that kind of aggression, or we don't want to, but we didn't match them," said Abdur-Rahim.
After shooting only 19 percent in the opening quarter against
Denver on Wednesday, the Grizzlies only improved marginally against
Miami, going just 4-of-18 from the field (22 percent). Vancouver
missed its first eight field goal attempts.
"What is there to say? We're digging ourselves a hole and it's all uphill from there," said Reeves.
Vancouver, however, finally began to take advantage of interior
size matchups, and when the Grizzlies hit their first five shots of
the third period they pulled to 55-50 before Miami recovered after
a timeout.
"(Riley) was very mad," said Tim Hardaway. "He thought we were tired. We took a timeout and we went back there and did what we could do."
The game marked the 39th time in 42 outings this season that the
Heat has held their opponent under 100 points. Vancouver had hit
the century mark in five of its previous six outings.
Game notes
A Grizzlies spokeswoman confirmed the club has formally
filed a protest with the league regarding the controversial finish
to Vancouver's 113-112 overtime loss Monday in Los Angeles against
the Lakers. Shaquille O'Neal's basket with no time left on the
clock was counted good. The Grizzlies contend the clock
malfunctioned with 0.4 seconds left. ... Veteran Grant Long, who
was placed on the injured list Dec. 30 with a fractured right
thumb, was activated before the game. Kevin Edwards (foot) went on
the IL for the Grizzlies. ... In nine meetings, the Grizzlies have
never hit the century mark against Miami.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Miami Clubhouse
Vancouver Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 97
New Jersey 86
Toronto 101
Washington 79
Milwaukee 105
Charlotte 98
New York 97
Detroit 91
Denver 91
Cleveland 88
Golden State 103
Phoenix 95
Minnesota 98
Seattle 93
Miami 97
Vancouver 86
LA Lakers 114
Houston 101
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Mike Bibby Official Site
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