NBA Wrap: Wade ties career high as Heat clinch the east
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-04-06 14:09

Dwyane Wade tied a career-high 39 points as the Miami Heat clinched the top seed spot in the Eastern Conference with a convincing 104-86 home win over the Chicago Bulls Tuesday.

Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade (3) ,left, gives chase with Chicago Bulls' Kirk Hinrich (12) for a loose ball during the first quarter. [AP]

Udonis Haslem added 16 points and 15 rebounds for Miami before he was ejected late in the game.

It was the Heat's 18th straight win at home, the longest home streak in the NBA since the Sacramento Kings had a similar run three years ago, and it assured Miami of home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.

The Heat won without injured Shaquille O'Neal while the Bulls were missing Eddy Curry, Luol Deng and Othella Harrington.

Damon Jones chipped in with 17 points for Miami, while Eddie Jones added 15.

The short-handed Bulls were trying to win 10 straight games for the first time since Michael Jordan retired but their nine-game winning streak never looked like being extended against a strong Miami team.

Andres Nocioni and Ben Gordon both scored 14 points for the Bulls, while Jannero Pargo added 13.

In other games, Vince Carter scored 27 points to help the New Jersey Nets crush the Cavaliers 111-80 in Cleveland.

Jason Kidd had 13 points and 12 assists and Nenad Krstic helped New Jersey with 18 points.

LeBron James led the Cavs with 24 points.

In Charlotte, Shaun Livingston scored 17 points, including a game-winning lay-up with one second on the clock that helped the Los Angeles Clippers edge the Bobcats 104-102.

Corey Maggette scored 30 points and Elton Brand added 29 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers.

Brevin Knight tallied 21 points and 13 assists for Charlotte.

In Washington, Paul Pierce poured in 25 points to pace the Boston Celtics to a 116-108 win over the Wizards.

Raef LaFrentz scored 21 points and Gary Payton added 14 points and 11 assists for the Celtics.

Gilbert Arenas tied his season high with 43 points and added 10 rebounds for Washington.

In New York, Stephen Jackson scored 33 points to help the Indiana Pacers to a 97-79 win over the Knicks.

Anthony Johnson and Reggie Miller each scored 13 points for the Pacers.

Stephon Marbury scored 19 points and Kurt Thomas contributed 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks.

In Atlanta, Lee Nailon scored a team-high 19 points from the bench to lead the New Orleans Hornets to a 96-86 win over the Hawks.

P.J. Brown scored 13 points and Chris Andersen added 12 points for the Hornets.

Tony Delk and Tom Gugliotta each scored 18 points and Josh Smith amassed 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Hawks.

In Memphis, Carmelo Anthony scored 23 points and Kenyon Martin added 20 from the bench to give the Denver Nuggets a 94-91 win over the Grizzlies.

Pau Gasol scored 18 points and Lorenzen Wright added 14 points and 14 rebounds for Memphis.

In Salt Lake City, Matt Harpring buried 17 points to assist the Jazz to a 90-79 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Mehmet Okur, Ben Handlogten and Kris Humphries each added 11 points for Utah.

Joel Przybilla, Travis Outlaw and Sebastien Telfair all scored 13 points for Portland.

In Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki scored 21 points to push the Mavericks to a 114-105 win over the Orlando Magic.

Point guard Jason Terry added 18 points and 13 assists in the win.

DeShawn Stevenson had 29 points for the Magic.

In Phoenix, Quentin Richardson scored 25 points as the Suns beat the fading Los Angeles Lakers 125-99.

The defeat means the Lakers will miss the postseason for the first time since the 1993-94 season.

Amare Stoudemire added 23 points for Phoenix while Shane Marion had 22 points and 12 rebounds.

Caron Butler scored 30 points to lead the Lakers.

In Sacramento, Peja Stojakovic scored 24 points as the Kings hammered the Seattle SuperSonics 122-101.

Cuttino Mobley added 21 points for Sacramento.

Ray Allen led Seattle with 23 points.

In Oakland, Baron Davis had 40 points and 13 rebounds as the Golden State Warriors beat the Houston Rockets 122-117.

Tracy McGrady scored 44 points in a losing cause for Houston and Yao Ming had 23 points and 11 rebounds.

Close

Lyon 1-1 PSV Eindhoven Ding Junhui wins World Snooker China Open Warriors beat Rockets 122-117

Today's Top News     Top Sports News
Japanese textbook distorts history, stirs fury         Shops called to boycott Japanese goods         ADB: China's economy expected to grow 8.5%         400,000 to relocate for water project         Possible US textile safeguards draw criticism         Shrine visit angers both sides of Straits	NBA Wrap: Wade ties career high as Heat clinch the east       Rockets lose 122-117 to Warriors       Chinese all into Badminton Japan Open       Liverpool beat Juventus 2-1       Lyon draw 1-1 with PSV Eindhoven       Basketball: FIBA champs gather in Beijing