O’Neal, Wade show best efforts for Heat

MIAMI -- Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade played their best games of the season, and the Heat finally won at home, beating the Houston Rockets, 98-91, on Friday night.

O’Neal had season highs of 26 points and 14 rebounds, Wade scored a season-high 31 points, and the Heat handed the Rockets their sixth loss in a row.

“Guys were getting me the ball in a position where I can do something,” O’Neal said. “It was a good game for us, a must win.”

Ricky Davis had 12 points and Udonis Haslem 11 for Miami, which had been 0-5 at home.

Yao Ming and Luis Scola each scored 20 points and Tracy McGrady had 19 for Houston.

Wade scored 14 points in the fourth quarter. His three-point play with 2:26 left gave Miami a 93-87 advantage. Haslem’s jumper with 1:12 left opened a 95-87 cushion the clinched it.

The Heat used an 8-2 run at the end of the third quarter to build a 74-67 lead.

Miami held a 50-49 halftime lead. O’Neal led the way with 14 points and six rebounds. McGrady scored 15 points, and Scola had 12 points and five rebounds off the Houston bench.

O’Neal received a huge ovation after stuffing Yao’s 12-foot jumper attempt with 9:19 left in the third quarter.

Both teams struggled from the free-throw line. Miami was 23 of 38 and Houston 14 of 22.