Dec 31, 2005 12:45 AM EST
Not even a career-high 47 points by Gilbert Arenas, who also had eight assists and seven rebounds, could end Miami's run of domination over the Wizards, which has included 10 consecutive regular season wins and last spring's 4-0 sweep in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Miami rode the one-two punch of Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade (28 and 34 points, respectively), received an overdue contribution from Antoine Walker off the bench (21 points, 13 rebounds) and extended its winning streak over Washington to 14 games with a 128-113 victory.
"You always want to do well and win the game and I tried to carry us early, but we just couldn't get over the hump," said Arenas. "When you've got two guys who just dominate the inside like Shaq and Wade -- they did a great job. And then you have Antoine Walker coming off the bench, it's tough."
Via Washington Post
Washington Wizards, Miami Heat
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One of the dozens of rumors involving Pacers forward Ron Artest is a trade to Miami for Antoine Walker. It's unlikely because the Pacers wouldn't want Walker's long-term contract, but from all the booing going on at the Heat's home games, it sounds like Miami's fans would approve such a deal.
Walker was booed Tuesday while hitting 2-of-10 shots and committing four turnovers against Milwaukee, and was cheered when he was sent to the bench for Udonis Haslem.
Walker had no reaction to the fan reaction.
"I'm going to be here until (coach and team president Pat Riley) decides to move me, so you're going to have deal with me," he said. "But trying to boo me or stuff like that, that doesn't bother me. I played in Boston, so I've seen the worst."
Via Indianapolis Star
Miami Heat
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Shaquille O'Neal laughed at the idea: diaper-clad men of gargantuan size summoned as battering rams to make the NBA's most imposing big man even better.
Don't laugh, Shaq. It might happen.
Coach Pat Riley is talking about adding extra bulk -- and he means real tonnage -- to Miami Heat practices.
Riley's idea? Sumo wrestlers.
"We're going to bring them in and have them lean on him and lean on him and we're not going to let him just back them in," Riley said. "And then he's going to have to take 100 jump hooks and 100 turnaround jumpers."
In Riley's eyes, there isn't much difference between sumo wrestling and the way teams defend his 7-foot-1, 340-pound center. Matches between sumotoris dressed in mawashis -- diapers, in the vernacular of the uninformed -- typically last 10 to 15 seconds, with two massive men pushing and shoving, trying to knock the other from a circular area.
Defending Shaq is essentially the same concept.
Via ESPN
Miami Heat
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Heat Dec 2005 Archive
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Miami Herald | Dec 26, 2005
Lamar Odom took exception to Gary Payton's constant running mouth in the Christmas Day showdown between the Lakers and Heat
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USA Today | Dec 24, 2005
This Christmas NBA fans will be privy to a Pistons-Spurs championship rematch and yet another chapter in the Kobe-Shaq novella as the Heat take on the Lakers.
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Miami Herald | Dec 24, 2005
There were 14 games in the NBA on Friday night, but most of the talk in Florida was about one that doesn't come until Sunday: the Los Angeles Lakers-Miami Heat matchup that brings the next chapter in the Kobe Bryant-Shaquille O'Neal rivalry.
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Sports Illustrated | Dec 23, 2005
Point guard Jason Williams returned to Miami's lineup against New Jersey on Friday, meaning the Heat had all five of their projected starters together for the first time this season.
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Chicago Tribune | Dec 21, 2005
Many teams, including the Bulls, are keeping an eye on Miami's Michael Doleac.
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AP | Dec 21, 2005
Miami Heat center Alonzo Mourning missed Tuesday night's game against the Atlanta Hawks with an upper respiratory infection.
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Herald | Dec 20, 2005
Former Heat star Tim Hardaway said Monday the team should re-sign him and fellow almost-40 retiree Glen Rice in order to assure a championship for the club.
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Miami Herald | Dec 18, 2005
Insiders confirm there are personal family issues in play that validate Stan Van Gundy's story.
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Miami Herald | Dec 15, 2005
The Heat continues to search for trade possibilities, with improving its depth at point guard standing as its highest priority.
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Sun-Sentinel | Dec 13, 2005
Before last Monday's game in Los Angeles, Stan Van Gundy was invited to Pat Riley's oceanfront estate in Malibu.
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Press Release | Dec 13, 2005
The Miami HEAT announced today that Stan Van Gundy has resigned as Head Coach due to personal and family reasons.
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Fox Sports | Dec 12, 2005
Miami Heat head coach, Stan Van Gundy, has decided to resign for personal reasons. The Heat's former head coach, Pat Riley, will return to the position.
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South Florida Sun-Sentinel | Dec 12, 2005
The Heat could soon be home to Jason Williams -- and Jason Williams.
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AP | Dec 12, 2005
Playing for the first time in five weeks, Shaquille O'Neal came through in the clutch -- and at the free throw line, of all places.
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Miami Herald | Dec 11, 2005
Miami Heat coach Stan Van Gundy said it still hasn't been decided when center Shaquille O'Neal will be cleared to return to the lineup.
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AP | Dec 9, 2005
Heat center Alonzo Mourning was ejected from Miami's game against Denver on Friday night after picking up his second unsportsmanlike technical foul of the game.
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ESPN | Dec 9, 2005
Shaquille O'Neal may return to the Miami Heat lineup as early as Sunday, following more than five weeks away because of a badly sprained right ankle.
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Fox Sports | Dec 9, 2005
Shaquille O'Neal could be on the verge of returning.
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Miami Herald | Dec 7, 2005
Shaquille O'Neal participated in a scaled-down practice on Tuesday. His ankle responded well, but he's still a few more practices from returning to real action.
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Express-News | Dec 7, 2005
Manu Ginobili (bone bruise, right ankle) is probable at home against Miami, in a potential Finals preview.
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Press Release | Dec 5, 2005
The Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade and the Golden State Warriors’ Baron Davis today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov.
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ESPN | Dec 5, 2005
All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal told the Palm Beach Post that he will practice on Tuesday and could potentially play on Wednesday when Miami travels to San Antonio to play the Spurs.
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Ledger Online | Dec 5, 2005
Shaquille O'Neal dropped in on the last-place Lakers, soaked up a standing ovation, and split before his former team eked out a win over the Charlotte Bobcats.
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Miami Herald | Dec 4, 2005
The next phase in Shaquille O'Neal's comeback from an ankle injury will begin Tuesday.
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Miami Herald | Dec 2, 2005
While the Heat still remain interested in bringing back guard Matt Walsh, the rookie was headed to Houston on Thursday to work out for the Rockets, his agent.
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Sun-Sentinel | Dec 1, 2005
Considering one alternative, Udonis Haslem has decided to play through the fractured pinky on his right hand.
