Heat’s Mashburn Breaks Thumb, May Be Lost for Season

Devastating. Out for the season.

These are words being used to assess Jamal Mashburn’s fractured thumb, and they do not bode well for the Miami Heat.

Alonzo Mourning had a season-high 39 points with 15 rebounds and seven blocks as the Heat beat the Detroit Pistons, 100-86, Friday night at Miami, but lost Mashburn, perhaps for the rest of the season.

Mashburn fractured his right thumb while attempting a dunk with 7:28 left in the second quarter. The team had no official word on how long he would be out, but Riley said surgery is imminent and “it’s going to be long.”

Dallas 85, Indiana 82--Two nights after a potentially game-winning three-point shot was ruled too late against Philadelphia, Michael Finley made one at the double-overtime buzzer and the Mavericks won at Indianapolis to end a 22-game road losing streak.

Finley finished with 32 points.

Earlier, the teams tied the NBA record for fewest points scored in a half when Indiana built a 34-24 halftime lead. The record was set on Jan. 15, 1955, when Syracuse played Fort Wayne at Buffalo, N.Y.

Chicago 112, Atlanta 110--Michael Jordan’s 15-foot jump shot at the buzzer bailed out the Bulls after they blew a 23-point lead.

Jordan finished with 37 points, scoring 12 of the Bulls’ final 15 points at Chicago.

New Jersey 130, Toronto 115--The host Nets overwhelmed the seven healthy players Toronto had after trading Damon Stoudamire and two other players to Portland.

Portland 105, Houston 81--Isaiah Rider returned from a one-game suspension for leaving the bench against the Lakers to score 25 points as the host Trail Blazers defeated Houston despite being short three players because of the trade with Toronto.

Charlotte 103, Philadelphia 96--Glen Rice scored 40 points, well short of his career-high of 56, as Charlotte won at home.

New York 99, Orlando 83--Penny Hardaway tried to play despite a strained left calf muscle that sidelined him for Orlando’s previous game, but scored only two points in 24 minutes.

Minnesota 107, Denver 80--Stephon Marbury had 22 points and Kevin Garnett 21 as the Timberwolves--one of four teams Denver has beaten--defeated the host Nuggets.

Sacramento 109, Golden State 92--Mitch Richmond matched his season high with 35 points and the Kings notched a rare road victory.