WASHINGTON — Ray Allen scored 23, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade chilled at the end of the bench, and the Heat's B-squad gave the resting A-team the gift of homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs Wednesday, clinching the best record in the NBA with a 103-98 victory over the Wizards.
With James (right hamstring) and Wade (sprained ankle and bruised knee) sitting, and Chris Bosh at home with flu-like symptoms, plus Udonis Haslem getting the night off because of a sore right ankle, the what-was-leftover Heat committed 25 turnovers but still managed the win that assured it will finish better than the Western Conference-leading Spurs.
The Heat, which has won four straight, set a franchise record for victories with 62, moving one ahead of the 1996-97 team. Miami improved to 14-1 on the second night of back-to-backs.
James played in Tuesday's 94-83 victory over the Bucks, but the Heat is playing it safe with the reigning league MVP.
"Not a setback," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Want to make sure he feels right. "
The absence of the big names gave the game a low-key, exhibition feel. The Heat committed 11 turnovers in the first quarter, yet still had a three-point lead. Miami made 17 3-pointers in the game, and 16 2-pointers.
Rashard Lewis scored 17, Shane Battier had 15, Mike Miller added 14 and Mario Chalmers finished with 13 for the Heat.
Magic tops BucKs in OT: Nik Vucevic had a career-high 30 points and 20 rebounds, Tobias Harris added 30 points and 19 rebounds, and the host Magic rallied for a 113-103 overtime victory over the Bucks. The Magic overcame a five-point deficit in the final minute of regulation, sending it to OT on a 3-pointer by Harris with 1.9 seconds left. Vucevic and Harris combined for nine points in the extra period as Orlando ended a five-game skid.
Game highlights: Deron Williams had 29 points and 12 assists to lead the Nets to a 101-93 win over the host Celtics. Brooklyn has won 12 of its past 18 games and is 3-1 against Boston. … Andre Drummond scored a career-high 29 and the Pistons won a second straight game for the first time since Feb. 8-9 with a 111-104 victory over the host Cavaliers. … Josh Smith scored 28 points and the Hawks blitzed the host 76ers 124-101. The Hawks tied the Bulls for fifth in the East playoff standings. … The visiting Suns pushed the Mavericks to the brink of playoff elimination for the first time since 2000 with a 102-91 victory.
Around the league: Rap mogul Jay-Z was a large presence when the Nets franchise changed homes and identities this season, but the part-owner is selling his small stake (less than 1 percent) so he can become certified as a player agent, possibly before the end of the season. NBA rules prevent anyone from being involved in ownership and player representation. … The Knicks will be without big men Tyson Chandler (bulging disc) and Kenyon Martin (sprained left ankle) tonight when they bring their 13-game winning streak to Chicago.
Heat 103, Wizards 98
MIAMI (103): Lewis 5-14 4-4 17, Battier 5-8 0-0 15, Anthony 1-3 0-0 2, Chalmers 5-14 0-0 13, Miller 5-7 0-0 14, Allen 8-18 6-7 23, Andersen 0-3 8-8 8, Cole 3-5 2-4 8, Jones 1-3 0-0 3. Totals 33-75 20-23 103.
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Explore all your optionsWASHINGTON (98): Webster 2-7 6-8 12, Nene 6-10 1-4 13, Okafor 3-6 2-2 8, Wall 7-18 3-3 17, Temple 3-10 0-0 8, Singleton 0-1 0-0 0, Price 8-12 2-2 23, Seraphin 4-8 1-2 9, Martin 3-7 0-0 8, Vesely 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 36-80 15-21 98.
Miami 25 21 23 34— 103
Washington 22 28 22 26— 98
3-Point Goals—Miami 17-41 (Battier 5-8, Miller 4-6, Chalmers 3-7, Lewis 3-8, Jones 1-3, Allen 1-7, Cole 0-2), Washington 11-23 (Price 5-8, Martin 2-4, Webster 2-4, Temple 2-6, Wall 0-1). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Miami 54 (Miller 8), Washington 41 (Wall 9). Assists—Miami 19 (Chalmers 8), Washington 19 (Wall 11). Total Fouls—Miami 18, Washington 20. A—20,308.
Magic 113, Bucks 103, OT
MILWAUKEE (103): Daniels 6-12 0-0 14, Mbah a Moute 0-2 0-0 0, Sanders 2-9 1-2 5, Jennings 1-2 0-0 3, Ellis 7-27 6-10 21, Redick 6-16 3-3 16, Henson 7-17 3-5 17, Dunleavy 5-11 4-6 17, Ayon 4-4 0-0 8, Smith 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 39-101 17-26 103.
ORLANDO (113): Harkless 7-13 0-1 14, Harris 13-20 1-3 30, Vucevic 14-26 2-3 30, Udrih 6-22 0-0 13, Moore 2-6 0-0 4, Nicholson 1-5 0-0 2, O'Quinn 2-6 0-1 4, Lamb 6-10 0-0 16, Jones 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 51-109 3-8 113.
Milwaukee 16 29 21 29 8— 103
Orlando 30 18 22 25 18— 113
3-Point Goals—Milwaukee 8-28 (Dunleavy 3-7, Daniels 2-4, Jennings 1-2, Redick 1-7, Ellis 1-8), Orlando 8-15 (Lamb 4-6, Harris 3-4, Udrih 1-1, Harkless 0-4). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Milwaukee 65 (Henson 25), Orlando 69 (Vucevic 20). Assists—Milwaukee 26 (Ellis 11), Orlando 27 (Udrih 11). Total Fouls—Milwaukee 16, Orlando 19. Technicals—Dunleavy, Harris, Orlando defensive three second. A—17,127.
Cavaliers 104, Pistons 111
DETROIT (111): Singler 1-7 5-6 7, Monroe 10-18 3-5 23, Drummond 10-11 9-17 29, Knight 2-11 3-3 7, Stuckey 5-8 6-9 18, Jerebko 2-5 1-2 5, Middleton 3-6 0-0 6, Villanueva 0-3 0-0 0, Bynum 7-10 0-0 16, English 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 40-80 27-42 111.
CLEVELAND (104): Gee 2-6 0-0 4, Thompson 8-13 3-6 19, Zeller 4-9 0-0 8, Irving 7-15 12-13 27, Ellington 4-5 0-0 9, Livingston 2-3 1-2 5, Jones 4-8 0-0 8, Speights 1-4 2-2 4, Waiters 5-12 1-1 11, Casspi 3-7 2-2 9. Totals 40-82 21-26 104.
Detroit 28 25 21 37— 111
Cleveland 24 25 26 29— 104
3-Point Goals—Detroit 4-16 (Stuckey 2-2, Bynum 2-4, Jerebko 0-1, Middleton 0-1, English 0-1, Villanueva 0-2, Singler 0-2, Knight 0-3), Cleveland 3-15 (Ellington 1-2, Casspi 1-2, Irving 1-5, Zeller 0-1, Waiters 0-2, Gee 0-3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Detroit 48 (Drummond 11), Cleveland 54 (Speights 9). Assists—Detroit 20 (Stuckey 7), Cleveland 21 (Irving 9). Total Fouls—Detroit 20, Cleveland 28. Technicals—Cleveland defensive three second. A—13,844.
Hawks 124, 76ers 101
ATLANTA (124): Korver 2-4 1-1 6, Smith 11-18 5-5 28, Horford 8-13 0-0 16, Teague 6-13 0-0 13, Harris 2-6 3-4 8, Stevenson 0-4 0-0 0, J.Jenkins 8-13 2-2 21, Scott 6-10 5-5 17, Johnson 3-5 2-2 8, Tolliver 0-0 0-0 0, Mack 2-4 0-0 5, Jones 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 49-91 18-19 124.
PHILADELPHIA (101): Turner 4-12 1-2 9, T.Young 14-20 0-0 28, Hawes 2-6 0-0 5, Jr.Holiday 4-14 3-3 12, Wilkins 0-7 6-6 6, Ivey 0-1 0-0 0, Wright 4-9 5-5 15, Allen 0-3 0-0 0, Moultrie 3-5 1-1 7, N.Young 6-9 4-5 19, Ju.Holiday 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 37-88 20-22 101.
Atlanta 29 30 34 31— 124
Philadelphia 27 24 22 28— 101
3-Point Goals—Atlanta 8-22 (J.Jenkins 3-4, Mack 1-2, Korver 1-3, Smith 1-3, Teague 1-3, Harris 1-4, Stevenson 0-3), Phi. 7-21 (N.Young 3-5, Wright 2-5, Hawes 1-2, Jr.Holiday 1-5, Turner 0-1, Ivey 0-1, Ju.Holiday 0-2). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Atlanta 48 (Smith 12), Phi. 48 (T.Young 8). Assists—Atlanta 34 (Teague 11), Phi. 21 (Turner 7). Total Fouls—Atlanta 17, Phi. 17. Technicals—Jr.Holiday. A—17,178.
Nets 101, Celtics 93
BROOKLYN (101): Wallace 1-3 0-0 2, Evans 0-0 1-4 1, Lopez 8-14 5-5 21, D.Williams 9-18 10-10 29, Johnson 8-15 0-0 20, Humphries 1-2 4-4 6, Watson 3-4 0-0 9, Blatche 2-7 2-2 6, Brooks 0-1 0-0 0, Stackhouse 2-7 3-3 7, Joseph 0-1 0-0 0, Teletovic 0-1 0-0 0, Taylor 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 34-74 25-28 101.
BOSTON (93): Green 4-17 1-1 11, Bass 5-11 0-0 10, Garnett 5-11 1-1 11, Bradley 1-3 0-0 2, Pierce 7-11 6-7 23, Lee 3-5 0-0 7, Randolph 1-2 0-0 2, Terry 1-7 2-2 4, Wilcox 3-4 0-0 6, T.Williams 3-4 2-4 8, Crawford 3-5 1-2 7, White 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 37-81 13-17 93.
Brooklyn 22 31 26 22— 101
Boston 21 22 26 24— 93
3-Point Goals—Brooklyn 8-19 (Johnson 4-6, Watson 3-3, D.Williams 1-6, Stackhouse 0-1, Teletovic 0-1, Wallace 0-2), Boston 6-16 (Pierce 3-5, Green 2-4, Lee 1-2, Crawford 0-1, T.Williams 0-1, Terry 0-3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Brooklyn 47 (Evans 14), Boston 44 (Randolph 9). Assists—Brooklyn 19 (D.Williams 12), Boston 20 (Crawford, Garnett 4). Total Fouls—Brooklyn 21, Boston 21. Technicals—Garnett. A—18,624.