Trouble on Home Front for the Heat

The Miami Heat’s new home, American Airlines Arena, hasn’t been very sweet so far.

The Heat was left with an even sourer taste by losing in overtime, 92-85, to the Chicago Bulls, of all teams, Tuesday night.

Chris Anstey’s last-second tip-in sent the game into overtime and Toni Kukoc scored seven of his 23 points in the extra session as the Heat’s record in the new building slipped to 2-3.

“They’re not a CBA team but they’re not a team that should come in here and beat us,” said Miami’s Dan Majerle, who was two for 15 from the field, including one for 11 from three-point range.

Elton Brand had 24 points and 13 rebounds for Chicago but missed three crucial free throws in the final 1:14 of regulation.

The Bulls are now 2-16 on the road.

Houston 90, Portland 89--The sellout crowd at Houston got another chance to boo Scottie Pippen and to see the Rockets beat the Trail Blazers as rookie Steve Francis scored 26 points, including six in the final 3:37.

It was Pippen’s second visit to Houston since the Rockets traded him in the off-season and he was booed each time he touched the ball. Pippen had 12 points and eight assists.

Hakeem Olajuwon played before the home crowd for the first time after missing 20 games recovering from hernia surgery. He had six points, four blocked shots and three steals in 19 minutes.

Seattle 99, Cleveland 80--Vin Baker had 28 points and Gary Payton added 25 at Seattle as the SuperSonics won their sixth consecutive game.

The SuperSonics beat the Cavaliers for the 10th time in a row and the eighth consecutive game at Seattle.

The Cavaliers got the first two baskets of the final quarter to cut Seattle’s lead to 72-71 before the SuperSonics went on a 13-0 run.

Lamond Murray paced the Cavaliers with 20 points, while former SuperSonic star Shawn Kemp had 13 points.

Notes

Charlotte Hornet teammates Bobby Phills and David Wesley were racing at more than 100 mph when Phills lost control of his Porsche and was killed, according to a new police report. Phills, traveling 107 mph, was behind Wesley, at 110 mph, when his car spun and crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with an Oldsmobile last Wednesday. Police originally estimated the players were racing at more than 75 mph in the 45 mph zone. . . . The Hornets announced makeup dates for the two home games postponed following Phills’ death. The will play Chicago March 5 and New York Feb. 7. . . . The Cleveland Cavaliers signed forward Mark Hendrickson to a second 10-day contract. . . . The U.S. Supreme Court, ruling against the Seattle SuperSonics, refused to hear an appeal of a decision that reinstated $7.4 million in damages, interest and attorney fees to six former ticket-sellers fired for protesting loss of their overtime pay. The court let stand a June ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that employees can’t be fired for complaining to their employers about wage violations.