Miami Heat Team Report - April 15

(Basketball News) - Caron Butler scored 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds, as the Miami Heat defeated the New Jersey Nets, 96-84, on Wednesday in the regular-season finale for both teams at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Rasual Butler contributed 16 points and Dwyane Wade added 13 for Miami, which finished as the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference and will have home court advantage when it faces New Orleans in the first round of the playoffs. The Heat won the season series from the Hornets, 3-1.

Brian Grant netted 11 points for the Heat, who ended the regular season at 42-40 thanks to wins in 17 of their last 21 games.

The Heat and Hornets will play the first game of the best-of-seven series on Sunday at AmericanAirlines Arena.