Miami woes continue with loss

NEW YORK: The Philadelphia 76ers extended their home-court domination of the Miami Heat with a 96-85 victory on Wednesday.

Andre Iguodala scored a season-high 28 points as Philadelphia scored their 13th home win in 15 tries against Miami. The loss dropped the Heat to 8-21, the worst record in the Eastern Conference and the second worst in the NBA.

Philadelphia (12-16) led by as many as 19 points in the second half but had to fight off a Miami comeback bid in the fourth quarter.

"We just didn't have it," Miami coach Pat Riley told reporters.

"We weren't playing hard. We were obviously out of sync."

The Heat rallied from a 55-38 halftime deficit to close to within three points in the fourth quarter, but could get no closer. Miami shot just 40 percent, including a woeful 1-for-13 from three-point range.

Dwyane Wade led the Heat with 27 points but was frustrated with his team's struggles.

"It's tough to lose," Wade said. "But it's tougher to be the worst team in the Eastern Conference."

Ricky Davis had 21 points for the Heat, while Shaquille O'Neal had 10 rebounds but was held to five points.

In Sacramento, California, Paul Pierce scored 14 of his 16 points during a dominating second-quarter run that carried Boston to its first win in Sacramento in more than 11 years, beating the Kings 89-69.

The Celtics played just their 11th road game of the season on Wednesday and first against a team in the Western Conference.

The Celtics had previously lost 11 straight at Arco Arena dating back to 1996.

The Kings scored 27 points in the third quarter but just 42 in the other three. Sacramento shot 38 percent in their lowest scoring game of the season.

In Orlando, the Orlando Magic snapped a four-game home losing streak with a 110-96 win over the New York Knicks. Hedo Turkoglu led Orlando with 26 points.

In Charlotte, North Carolina, the Washington Wizards snapped a three-game losing streak with a 108-104 win over the Charlotte Bobcats.

In East Rutherford, New Jersey, the Detroit Pistons won their sixth in a row with a 101-83 win over the New Jersey Nets.

In San Antonio, the Chicago Bulls lost 94-78 to the San Antonio Spurs. Tony Parker led San Antonio with 28 points.

In Salt Lake City, the Utah Jazz snapped the Dallas Mavericks' five-game winning streak with a 99-90 victory, Carlos Boozer leading the way for the victors with 21 points.

In Denver, Marcus Camby had an unusual triple-double - 10 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks - as the Denver Nuggets mauled the Milwaukee Bucks 125-105.

In Oakland, California, Monta Ellis scored a career-high 35 points to go with six rebounds and four assists, and Golden State held on to beat Minnesota 105-101 for its fifth straight home victory.

Agencies

(China Daily 12/28/2007 page24)