NBA Game Summary - Miami at New Orleans

04.2.2005

New Orleans, LA (Basketball News) - Dwyane Wade scored 33 points, while Shaquille O’Neal posted his 42nd double-double of the season as the Miami Heat easily handled New Orleans 111-99 at New Orleans Arena Saturday.

Wade went 11-of-17 from the floor and added nine assists for Miami, which swept the season series with the Hornets for the first time in franchise history.

O’Neal contributed 34 points and 15 rebounds, while Damon Jones hit six three-pointers en route to 22 points for the Heat, who are 3-3 in their last six games.

"(O’Neal) and (Wade) were outstanding and (Jones) made a lot of shots," Heat coach Stan Van Gundy said. "(Wade) had a great start. Both (Wade) and (O’Neal) were great in the low post tonight."

"To be honest with you, I thought our guys were intimidated by those two guys," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "Shaq is so dominant and strong. (Wade is) a strong, physical specimen, and one of the most explosive guys going to the basket."

Leading New Orleans, which has lost five straight at home, was P.J. Brown with a season-high 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting in 24 minutes off the bench.

Also reaching double figures in the loss were Speedy Claxton with 18 points, Dan Dickau with 14 and Chris Andersen and Casey Jacobsen with 13 points apiece.

It was all Wade in the first quarter as Miami’s second-year star had 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting as the Heat took control 29-24 after 12 minutes.

Miami stretched its advantage to double figures, 54-44, by halftime as Wade had 24 points and O’Neal added 17 points and 10 boards.

"(Wade) gave us fits in the first half," Claxton said. "Basically he was doing whatever he wanted out there."

Coming out of the intermission on a 14-5 run, Miami extended its lead to 68-49 midway through the third quarter, which ended with the Heat ahead, 81-63.

New Orleans, which trailed the entire game, never threatened in the fourth quarter.

Miami outscored the Hornets 64-38 in the paint and held a 39-25 rebounding edge.

"Tonight we were dominant inside," Van Gundy said.

Miami closed out a two-game road trip with a 1-1 record...On January 23rd, the Heat burned the Hornets, 97-68, at AmericanAirlines Arena...Miami has lost seven of its last nine at the Hornets...The Heat are 23-14 on the road this season, although they had lost three straight prior to this victory...New Orleans will play three of its next four games at home...The Hornets fell to 11-25 as the host this season...The Hornets had held Miami under 100 points for 20 straight games...Heat Guard Eddie Jones returned to action for 25 minutes after missing a game with an ankle injury. He did not score, but had five rebounds, four assists and four steals.

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