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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Eddie Jones has made up his mind to
be more aggressive, and after just two games the results are there.
Jones scored 31 points for the second straight night Saturday
and the Miami Heat held off a second-half rally to hand the New
Jersey Nets their fourth straight setback, 86-80.
"I need to be aggressive and attack the rim," said Jones after
he hit on eight of 15 shots and 13 of 16 free throws, grabbed five
rebounds and added three steals. "I want to put pressure on the
officials to either make a call or let me miss or make a shot."
The strategy seems to be working for Jones, who went 12-for-12
from the line Friday in a 103-95 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
"I'm trying to go with the attitude that I have to create in
order for us to be a pretty good team," said Jones, who had 21
points in the first half and then added six in the late going
against New Jersey.
"I think you're seeing something a little different from Eddie,"
said Miami coach Pat Riley, whose club won for the sixth straight
time in the second game of a back-to-back set. "He's taking the
ball to the basket. He's mixing up his jumpers and drives extremely
well."
Riley was also pleased with the Miami defense.
Stephon Marbury made 12 of 22 shots and had 37 for the Nets. But
his teammates combined to shoot just 18-of-59, leaving the Nets
without enough firepower to catch the Heat.
"Some guys made shots and some guys didn't," said Marbury.
"We have to stay positive. We've got to continue to shoot and
eventually it will happen.
"It's a bad time for us as far as playing basketball," Marbury
said. "Right now we're a little frustrated on defense and it looks
like we're fighting the offense. We're not letting it work for us.
We're not playing free."
The Nets fought to a 52-all tie with 5:34 to play in the third
period as Marbury tallied on a driving layup. But the Heat opened
some room by scoring nine of the next 11 points -- four by Brian
Grant -- to open a 61-54 advantage.
Marbury's 3-pointer with 7:29 remaining in the fourth period
pulled New Jersey to 73-66, but Miami went on a 9-4 run that
included a 3-point basket by Jones to open its biggest lead of the
game, 79-67 with 3:06 to play.
Marbury hit two foul shots and a 3-pointer with 7.4 to go to
make things interesting before Jones closed the scoring with two
free throws with 6.6 remaining.
Brian Grant had 18 points and Tim Hardaway added 15 for the
Heat, while Aaron Williams tallied 12 points and had a career-high
19 rebounds for the Nets.
Game notes
Nets forward Keith Van Horn, who has been out the whole
season after fracturing his left fibula in the preseason, will
begin practicing with the team Wednesday. ... Veteran Heat forward
Dan Majerle, activated from the injured list Friday and playing in
just his second game this year, reaggravated his left hamstring
injury late in the first half and did not return.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Miami Clubhouse
New Jersey Clubhouse
RECAPS
Atlanta 91
Indiana 87
Charlotte 88
San Antonio 84
Detroit 106
Chicago 93
Miami 86
New Jersey 80
Orlando 111
Cleveland 92
Utah 98
Minnesota 92
Golden State 95
Houston 87
Milwaukee 104
Boston 99
Phoenix 102
Denver 93
Portland 87
Washington 70
LA Clippers 92
Vancouver 90
Sacramento 97
Seattle 92
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Eddie Jones steals the inbounds pass and finishes with a jam.
avi: 503 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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