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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- After losing to the Chicago Bulls
and the New Jersey Nets on consecutive nights, you better believe
Pat Riley is concerned about his Miami Heat. Very concerned.
|  | | Stephon Marbury overcame plenty of fourth-quarter obstacles, when he scored nine of his 18 points. |
The stuggling Nets added to Riley's woes on Friday night,
squandering a seven-point lead and then rallying for a 91-84
victory as Stephon Marbury took over after Atlantic Division-leading Miami took the lead, scoring nine of his 18
points.
"Our offense is stuck in the mud," Riley said after watching
the Heat commit 24 turnovers, including three big ones with the
game on the line. "Our big players are not making shots and they
are careless and tentative with the ball.
"The turnovers were the difference tonight. In the crucial
moments at the end of the game, each of our three best players
turned the ball over," Riley added. "I'm very concerned about the
offense, it's absolutely stagnant."
Miami made just two baskets and gave the ball away three times
after tying the game at 80 with 3:48 to play. The Nets also made
plays in beating Miami for the second time this season.
"On any given night we can beat anybody if we play defense,"
Marbury said.
Kendall Gill added four of his 18 points and had a key steal in
the final minutes and Keith Van Horn had 19 points and 11 rebounds
for New Jersey.
Tim Hardaway had 18 points and Alonzo Mourning 15 points and 11
rebounds, but each made mistakes down the stretch as Miami was
embarrassed for the second straight night. Miami lost to the Bulls
83-76 on Thursday night.
There were four lead changes and two ties in the final quarter
after Miami got back into the game with a 12-2 run.
After Hardaway tied the game, Marbury put the Nets back in front with two free throws after being fouled by Mourning with 3:28 to go.
Neither team scored again until Marbury sank a high arcing
floater over Mourning for an 84-80 lead with 1:25 to play.
Mourning dunked at the other end and Miami got a chance to tie
the game when Gill missed a drive. However, Gill stripped the ball
from Hardaway at other end and took a return pass from Kerry
Kittles for a breakaway layup with 46.4 seconds left.
"Miami is a tough team," Gill said. "They execute very well,
have good players and a great coach. But the bottom line is they
are predictable. I love playing them because I know exactly what
they are going to do."
Miami hit only one shot the rest of the way, with Mourning going
3-of-8 from the field in the quarter.
Miami, which hadn't led since the middle of the second quarter,
wiped out a 70-63 deficit by opening the fourth quarter with a 12-2
spurt. It featured a three-point play by Clarence Weatherspoon and
dunks by Mark Strickland and Mourning.
Miami jumped to a 10-point lead by hitting 7-of-9 shots but New
Jersey offset the shooting by forcing seven turnovers and grabbing
seven offensive rebounds to tie the game at 25.
Johnny Newman had a rare four-point play to ignite a 13-4 run at
the end of the second quarter that gave New Jersey a 50-41 halftime
lead.
Game notes
The 24 turnovers were one shy of the Heat's high for the
season. ... It was the Nets' first victory eight tries on a Friday
night. ... The loss was Miami's fourth in 16 games against Atlantic
Division teams. ... Nets rookie Evan Eschmeyer had a season-high
five points and played well in the second half. ... Miami was
called for two technical fouls and one flagrant on Anthony Carter
for shoving Marbury on a breakaway layup attempt in the fourth
quarter.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Miami Clubhouse
New Jersey Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 104
Cleveland 75
Denver 95
Toronto 91
Charlotte 115
LA Clippers 87
New Jersey 91
Miami 84
LA Lakers 107
Orlando 99
Minnesota 103
Vancouver 91
San Antonio 116
Houston 92
Phoenix 85
Atlanta 73
Portland 93
Washington 85
Golden State 122
Boston 100
Sacramento 118
Seattle 85
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