Notes
The schedule is about to turn in the Heat's favor. Starting with Thursday's game against Washington, the Heat plays five of its next six at home, and only one of those opponents (Utah) has a winning record.
Washington, Indiana and Atlanta have .500 records, and New Jersey and Minnesota are below .500. Miami has already lost to Utah, Indiana and Atlanta, but the Heat lost to the Pacers and Hawks without Dwyane Wade. The Heat beat the Nets without Wade.
"Once we get off the road and get back with five out of six games (at home)... we've got to find out exactly where we are as a team (and) get back in this thing," coach Pat Riley said.
Riley has settled into a rotation that he hopes will solve a number of problems that have existed since training camp, mainly at power forward and backup point guard.
The Heat starts Dorell Wright at small forward and Ricky Davis comes off the bench. In the second half, Davis starts and Wright comes off the bench.
At point guard, Riley has been starting Chris Quinn while Jason Williams recovers from a sprained right ankle. Quinn has moved as guard Smush Parker awaits his fate with the team. Smush Parker was involved in an incident with a female parking valet in Miami and didn't make the West Coast trip.
Riley is happy with Wright's and Quinn's roles for now.
"He and Dorell have played well," Riley said.
Davis said his role would take some adjustment, but so far it's working.
"It's good," Davis said. "When I'm there at the end of the battle and the game's on the line is when I want to be in the game."
HEAT 117, SUNS 113: The Heat, playing its fourth game in five nights and the second game of a back-to-back set, came up with a shocking performance to defeat the high-octane Suns at US Airways Arena.
"Best win for us this year," Heat coach Pat Riley said.
Phoenix tied the game at 80 in the third quarter, its first time being tied since 14-14 in the first quarter. But the Heat, which shot 58.8 percent from the floor and 87 percent from the line, then went on a 9-0 run to take an 89-80 lead into the fourth quarter.
"That was crucial," Riley said.
The Heat's starting frontcourt got a double-double as center Shaquille O'Neal (18 points, 111 rebounds) and forwards Dorell Wright (16 points, 12 rebounds) and Udonis Haslem (21 points, 12 rebounds) had their best game as a trio.
The Suns made it close, getting within 111-108 with 32.1 seconds left but the Heat, for the second game in a row, made the big plays to close out the game.
"We need to make this our breakthrough game," O'Neal said.
NOTES, QUOTES
—The Heat's 40-point first quarter was a season-best for points in a quarter and its 67-point first half was a season high for points in a half.
—F Penny Hardaway could be a candidate to be released if the Heat signs F Luke Jackson this week. Jackson is coming in for a workout.
—"My body feels so good, my mind feels good," Hardaway said. "I know that this is a business and if that happens, that just happens. I've given it my all. I went to training camp and I haven't missed a regular-season game. I haven't had any ailments or anything, just minor stuff, so I'm definitely thankful and I hope if this situation doesn't work out, I'll go somewhere else.
"But right now, I'm just going to play hard and work hard, cheer the guys on, and if that happens with them signing Luke Jackson, I'll just have to deal with it. It's a business."
The Heat out-rebounded Phoenix, 46-29.
—QUOTE TO NOTE: "Two nights ago, when I got in from Golden State, I was feeling a little bit low. And my wife's in town. So I went to the 19th floor of the Four Seasons Hotel at about 1:30 in the morning, I was out on the balcony looking down at Wilshire Boulevard, and she said, 'Honey, it's not worth it. Don't do it.'... The value of an NBA wife." — Coach Pat Riley, on his recent visit to L.A.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Apparently, I don't know what the (expletive) I'm talking about." — C Shaquille O'Neal, before Monday's game pre-game Monday, on requesting more field goal attempts.
ROSTER REPORT
ROTATION: Starters — Point guard Chris Quinn, Shooting guard Dwyane Wade, Small forward Dorell Wright, Power forward Udonis Haslem, Center Shaquille O'Neal. Bench — Center Alonzo Mourning, Guard/Forward Ricky Davis, Guard Jason Williams, Guard Smush Parker, Forward Penny Hardaway, Center/Forward Mark Blount, Guard Daequan Cook, Forward Alexander Johnson, Center Earl Barron, Center Joel Anthony.
PLAYER NOTES:
—F Dorell Wright had his second double-double in three games, totalling 16 points and 12 rebounds. Wright, making his third consecutive start, had 19 points and 17 rebounds against Golden State on Friday.
—G Chris Quinn started his second consecutive game and finished with 12 points, two off his career best. In his last start, his fourth of the season, Quinn had 13 points. And for the second consecutive game Quinn didn't commit a turnover.
—G Dwyane Wade finished with 31 points against Phoenix, his third consecutive game with 30 or more.
—C Shaquille O'Neal was 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. His 7-for-10 performance from the field raised his field-goal percentage to a career-best .604.
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