O’Neal Fumes After Loss to Dallas

Shaquille O’Neal can tolerate losing to the Dallas Mavericks. Losing to Maverick center Erick Dampier is another story.

After Dampier harassed O’Neal into two late misses in a 109-104 Dallas victory over the visiting Miami Heat on Tuesday night, O’Neal turned his postgame interview into a Dampier-bashing session.

“Damp is soft. Quote it, write it, tape it and send it to him,” said O’Neal, who until this season played Dampier four times a year but never spoke out against him. “I tell you, there’s nothing there.”

Dampier, who had 15 points and 14 rebounds, refused to respond in kind, repeatedly saying that the scoreboard is all that matters and that the Mavericks are 2-0 against the Heat this season.

O’Neal had 25 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and three blocked shots, but it wasn’t enough to stretch Miami’s three-game winning streak. The Heat blew a 97-91 lead with 4:34 left by not scoring again until making two three-point baskets in the final 11.6 seconds. By then, Dallas had taken control, thanks mostly to Jerry Stackhouse.

Stackhouse had 10 of his team-high 24 points during the closing run.

The Heat missed eight shots in a row at one point, with O’Neal contributing a pair. Dwyane Wade led Miami with 29 points but had two wild misses during the meltdown.

Memphis 108, Phoenix 97 -- Jason Williams scored 19 points to lead seven Grizzlies in double figures, and Memphis made 12 of 23 three-point shots to end the visiting Suns’ five-game winning streak.

Phoenix guard Steve Nash was ejected for arguing with 3:05 left and the Grizzlies leading, 100-92. Joe Johnson had 30 points for the Suns.

Milwaukee 91, Minnesota 86 -- Michael Redd scored 19 points at Milwaukee, and the Bucks limited the Timberwolves to a season-low 30 points in the second half to beat them for the first time in 10 games, a streak dating to March 28, 1999.

Latrell Sprewell scored 24 points, including 19 in the first quarter, for the Timberwolves.

Seattle 106, Sacramento 101 -- Ronald Murray scored a season-high 23 points in place of ill leading scorer Ray Allen at Sacramento to help beat the Kings, who were without Chris Webber (knee) and Peja Stojakovic (back).

Allen was sidelined for the second game in a row because of flu.

Mike Bibby had 25 points for the Kings.

Detroit 105, Washington 96 -- Chauncey Billups scored 11 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, and the Pistons closed with a 20-11 run at Washington to win their fourth in a row. Antawn Jamison scored 26 points for the Wizards, who have lost eight in a row to the Pistons.

Orlando 105, Cleveland 102 -- Steve Francis had 30 points and tied a season high with 13 assists at Orlando, Fla., to help the Magic spoil LeBron James’ return.

James finished with 28 points, seven assists and five rebounds in his first game since spraining his ankle last Wednesday.

Jeff McInnis seemed to send the game into overtime with a buzzer-beating three-pointer, but after viewing replays the officials waved it off.

New Jersey 107, Chicago 97 -- Jacque Vaughn moved into the starting lineup and tied his career high with 23 points, and Jason Kidd had 26 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists at East Rutherford, N.J., to lead the Nets to their season-high fourth victory in a row. Vince Carter led all scorers with 31 points.

Kirk Hinrich had 18 points for the Bulls, who suffered two losses in a row for the first time since late December.

Denver 96, New York 76 -- Ken- yon Martin scored a season-high 27 points at Denver to lead the Nuggets to their third consecutive victory under new Coach George Karl.

Jamal Crawford had 20 points for the Knicks, who have lost 14 of 16.

Charlotte 109, Utah 105 -- Gerald Wallace scored 28 points and helped the Bobcats rally from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to win the second road game in team history, without Emeka Okafor (sprained ankle). Charlotte is 2-19 on the road.

Andrei Kirilenko had a season-high 27 points and 10 assists for Utah.