Wade, O'Neal lead Heat to 108-100 victory over 76ers

Associated Press, Miami, Florida

Looking nothing like a team playing its fourth game in five nights, Miami got 32 points from Dwyane Wade and 25 more from Shaquille O'Neal to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 108-100 on Monday.

The Heat shot 54.9 percent from the field, extended their winning streak to six games, won their 10th straight at home - and moved a step closer to clinching the Southeast Division title. Miami has an 11-game lead over Washington in the division race; the Heat have 20 games remaining.

"We just have to worry about what we're supposed to worry about and keep beating the teams we're supposed to beat," O'Neal said. "Keep winning at home, and keep staying above .500 on the road. If we do those things, then by that formula itself things will work out."

Wade made 18 free throws to set a franchise record; he got to the line 23 times. Shandon Anderson had 13 points, and Udonis Haslem had a 12-point, 10-rebound night for Miami (46-16), which has an eight-game lead over Detroit in the Eastern Conference.

"We clearly didn't have what it takes to win tonight against a quality team," said Philadelphia coach Jim O'Brien, whose club fell a half-game behind Indiana in the chase for the East's eighth and final playoff spot.

Allen Iverson led Philadelphia with 27 points. Samuel Dalembert added 21 points for the 76ers, who got only 10 points in 26 minutes from Chris Webber.

In Dallas, Marquis Daniels had a season-high 32 points and Jason Terry added 23 to help Dallas beat Toronto without the help of Dirk Nowitzki.

Nowitzki, averaging 26.9 points and 10.1 rebounds, missed his second straight game for the Mavericks because of a bruised left knee. Dallas also played without the injured Michael Finley, Erick Dampier and Jerry Stackhouse.

Josh Howard added 22 points and eight rebounds, and Keith Van Horn, subbing for Nowitzki, had 19 points. Morris Peterson led Toronto with 23 points.

In Chicago, Kirk Hinrich scored 12 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, and Chicago held off Milwaukee for its 30th victory, tying the Bulls' most in a season since they won their sixth championship in 1997-98.

In Denver, Carmelo Anthony had 23 points before sitting out the fourth quarter and Denver beat Portland for its seventh straight win, the Nuggets' longest streak in 16 years.

Denver is 14-4 under coach George Karl, has won eight straight home games and has made up 6 1/2 games on the Los Angeles Lakers in a little over a month to tie for eighth in the West. Damon Stoudamire led Portland with 24 points.

In Los Angeles, Lorenzen Wright scored 23 points, Brian Cardinal had 20 and Memphis nearly blew a 13-point lead in the final 2:17 before beating the Los Angeles Clippers for its fourth straight victory.

Corey Maggette scored 37 points for the Clippers.

NBA Games

Results of Monday's National Basketball Association games (home team in bold): Miami 108 Philadelphia 100 Chicago 90 Milwaukee 85 Dallas 113 Toronto 105 Denver 111 Portland 98 Memphis 105 LA Clippers 102