Heat Wakes Up for Big Victory

Alonzo Mourning had 18 points and 17 rebounds, and the Miami Heat overcame a 23-point first half to beat the Magic, 75-70, Thursday night at Orlando, Fla., in a battle for first place in the Eastern Conference.

The Heat (29-13) opened a one-game lead over the Magic (29-15) in the East.

Miami shot a franchise-low 22.9% (eight for 35) in the first half and trailed, 36-23, at the break. The 23 points were only three more than the NBA-record low for a half, set by New Orleans at Seattle in 1975.

The Heat, however, took control by making its first seven shots of the third quarter and outscoring the Magic, 33-13, in the period to take a 56-49 lead it never relinquished.

Philadelphia 104, Detroit 96--Allen Iverson scored 28 points as the 76ers beat the slumping Pistons at Auburn Hills, Mich.

The win moved Philadelphia into fifth place in the Eastern Conference playoff race, a half-game ahead of Milwaukee and one game ahead of Detroit. Detroit, loser of six of its last seven games, leads Charlotte by only one game for the eighth and final playoff spot.

San Antonio 103, Dallas 76--David Robinson scored 18 points as the Spurs won their fifth straight overall and 10th in a row at home.

The Spurs have won 24 of 28 games since March 1 to move within two games of first-place Utah in the Midwest Division.

Atlanta 106, Boston 94--Steve Smith scored 26 points and the Hawks held the Celtics without a field goal for nearly seven minutes in the third quarter in their victory at Atlanta.