O’Neal Applies the Icing in Overtime on Birthday

The Miami Heat gave Shaquille O’Neal the only birthday gift he wanted: the ball when the game was on the line.

O’Neal marked his 34th birthday with 35 points, including all of Miami’s scoring in overtime, leading the Heat over the Bobcats, 106-105, Monday night at Charlotte, N.C.

“In overtime, I told the guys, ‘Just bring it to me,’ ” O’Neal said. “We were messing around the whole game, so I just told the guys to keep coming to me. And they did.”

O’Neal also had 12 rebounds to help the Heat to a season-high ninth consecutive victory. He scored on all four of his attempts -- three on dunks -- and had three rebounds in overtime to finally put the Bobcats away.

Asked how he planned to celebrate his birthday, O’Neal said, “I’m going to just go home, be thankful for my beautiful wife and gorgeous kids, where I live, my job. Actually, every day is my birthday.”

Miami played without leading scorer Dwyane Wade (sprained right wrist) and trailed by 15 points early.

Gerald Wallace led Charlotte with 26 points, 15 rebounds and six steals.

Sacramento 109, New Jersey 84 -- Mike Bibby scored 23 of his 29 points in the first half to help hand the Nets their most lopsided home loss of the season. Vince Carter led the Nets with 21 points.

Denver 115, Memphis 101 -- Carmelo Anthony scored 35 points to help drop the Grizzlies to 0-14 at the Pepsi Center. Bobby Jackson had 20 of his 22 points in the second half for Memphis, the only NBA team that has never won at the Pepsi Center.

Utah 90, Orlando 85 -- Andrei Kirilenko not only had 18 points, nine rebounds and six blocked shots, but also made six free throws in the final 1:05 and blocked potential game-tying shots by Jameer Nelson and DeShawn Stevenson in the final 9.5 seconds for the Jazz win at Salt Lake City. The Jazz had squandered a 20-point by making one field goal in 14 fourth-quarter shots.