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Mourning May Have Reunion With Heat

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From Associated Press

Alonzo Mourning and the Toronto Raptors agreed on a buyout of his contract Friday, amid speculation the seven-time All-Star center will sign with the Miami Heat.

Mourning, 35, was acquired from New Jersey in a trade for Vince Carter on Dec. 17 but never reported to the Raptors. Should he clear waivers -- which is likely because he’s owed at least $14 million under his contract -- Mourning would be free to sign with the Heat on Tuesday.

Speaking on a radio show of which his former college coach, John Thompson, was host, Mourning -- who lives in Miami and whose foundation is based there -- strongly indicated that he’s hoping for a reunion with the Heat.

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“I can still play this game at a high level; I’ve proven that,” Mourning told WTEM-AM radio. “Come in and use my skills to help contribute to the success of a team and make things a lot easier for them.... I want to be home. I want to be close to my family. I want to be close to my foundation and my business interests.”

The Raptors, who said Mourning’s health issues prevented him from being part of the franchise’s plans, didn’t reveal buyout details; Mourning said he settled for $6 million less than what remained on his contract.

Miami, which has the Eastern Conference’s best record but is only 11-10 against the West, could sign Mourning for a prorated share of the $1.1-million veteran minimum salary, which would work out to be about $350,000 for the remainder of the year.

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Reggie Miller, the NBA’s most prolific three-point shooter, will retire at the end of the season and is ruling out any possibility of a comeback.

Miller, who will turn 40 this summer, had hinted all season that this would be his last, but he didn’t make it official until after the Indiana Pacers’ 91-83 loss to Houston on Friday, one night after his sister, Cheryl, broke the news on TNT.

“I really wasn’t going to say anything all year ... but let’s get it over and move on,” Miller said. “I believe it’s time. I’ve always said when I felt this organization and franchise and the players were able to take the next step, it would be time for me to move on.”

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This is Miller’s 18th season -- all with Indiana -- since he was a first-round draft pick from UCLA in 1987.

“The younger players are able to carry this franchise,” he said. “This is the time for me to move on and the other guys to step into the light.”

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A fan changed his mind and pleaded no contest to a charge of walking onto the court during the November brawl at the Pacer-Detroit Piston game.

Alvin Shackelford Jr. pleaded no contest to the charge of violating an ordinance barring spectators from entering a performance space. Joan Bacon, who represents the city of Auburn Hills, Mich., recommended no jail time for the 21-year-old spectator. Sentencing is March 16.

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Seattle SuperSonic forward Danny Fortson was suspended for two games by the NBA for yelling at a referee, throwing a chair and not leaving the court promptly following his ejection during a victory over Sacramento.

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Geoff Petrie signed a four-year extension with the Sacramento Kings to remain as president of basketball operations until at least 2010.

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