Hawks-Heat replay complicated by trade

The Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat must replay the final 51.9 seconds of their Dec. 19 game in Atlanta on March 8, but Shaquille O’Neal’s trade to Phoenix leads to a question.

Will the two new Miami players -- Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks -- be eligible?

The league will rule on the matter. The replay, with Atlanta leading 114-111, is necessary because the Hawks’ official scorer ruled incorrectly that O’Neal had fouled out.

--

Houston guard Steve Francis will undergo season-ending surgery on a torn left quadriceps muscle, his agent said. . . . Washington forward Caron Butler, sidelined for three games last week by a hip injury, is out again.