NBA Game Summary - Minnesota at Miami

03.10.2005

Miami, FL (Basketball News) - Shaquille O’Neal scored 33 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the Miami Heat to a 107-90 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Dwayne Wade added 20 points, seven rebounds and three blocks for Miami, which has won seven in a row overall. Eddie Jones tallied 15 points for the Heat, who have won 11 straight at home.

O’Neal, who also had three blocks, went 10-of-18 from the floor and 13-of-18 from the free throw line, as the Heat used a huge fourth quarter to clinch the victory. He scored 12 points in the final stanza and thwarted Minnesota’s Hack-a-Shaq game plan late by hitting 5-of-6 from the stripe down the stretch.

Kevin Garnett had 22 points and 19 boards for the Timberwolves, who had a three-game win streak halted. Troy Hudson added 20 points for Minnesota, which lost for just the fourth time in 10 games.

Entering the fourth tied at 74-74, the Heat grabbed control early with a 10-2 run to open the stanza. Wade and Udonis Haslem combined for eight points during the burst, which was capped by a Wade layup 3 1/2 minutes into the frame.

Later, ahead 90-84, O’Neal scored the first five points during a 7-0 spurt that increased the Heat’s cushion to 13 points. Shandon Anderson’s layup ended the run with 3:42 remaining.

After a Hudson driving layup made it an 11-point game, Minnesota turned to the Hack-a-Shaq strategy. However, O’Neal quickly put an end to that by hitting five of six from the line as the Heat’s lead grew to 102-88 with 2:46 left.

"Most of the time it won’t work," said O’Neal of the fouling. "When they try it, I just have to go to the line and hit them. Today, I was in my rhythm a little bit. I just have to try to keep that up, especially when the playoffs start."

Minnesota, which scored only two points in the final 3:10 of the game, had a three-game win streak to the Heat come to an end.

"Well, it was pretty much Shaquille," said Minnesota head coach Kevin McHale. "He played a whale of a game."

The game was tied 24-24 after one quarter and the Heat went into halftime with a 51-46 lead.

Haslem ended with 11 points and eight rebounds...Miami’s Alonzo Mourning did not play...Miami shot 48 percent from the floor and 33-of-41 from the free throw line...Minnesota shot 47 percent from the field, but went to the foul line only 15 times, hitting 11.

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