O’Neal Sits Out, but Heat Stays On

When Dwyane Wade sat out a pair of games this season because of a sore ankle, Shaquille O’Neal vowed to pick up the slack.

With O’Neal sidelined Tuesday night because of a bruised calf, Wade returned the favor.

Wade had 33 points and 11 assists, and Miami also got an 18-point, 17-rebound performance from Udonis Haslem in its 108-100 victory over the visiting Boston Celtics -- a victory that extended the Heat’s season-best winning streak to nine games and improved their Eastern Conference-leading record to 20-9.

“I came in this morning, found out he wasn’t playing, and he said ‘Flash, I need you.’ And I said, ‘All right,’ ” said Wade, who made 11 of 20 shots from the field. “That’s the kind of relationship we’ve got. That’s the kind of team we have.”

O’Neal sat out his first game of the season because of the bruise, sustained in Sunday’s victory over Orlando. Haslem carried the inside load in his absence, playing the entire second half and tying his career high in rebounds.

Paul Pierce had 25 points for Boston (11-13), which missed a chance to reach .500 for the first time this season.

Celtic guard Ricky Davis was ejected after fouling Wade hard on a breakaway late in the third quarter.

Cleveland 107, Minnesota 97 -- LeBron James had 26 points and 12 assists to lead the Cavaliers at Cleveland.

Kevin Garnett had 26 points, 13 rebounds and six assists for the Timberwolves, who played without forward Latrell Sprewell (sprained left foot).

Cavalier guard Eric Snow returned from a one-game suspension for arguing with Coach Paul Silas and scored four points in 17 minutes.

Dallas 123, New York 94 -- Josh Howard had career highs of 26 points and 16 rebounds, and the Mavericks opened a 39-point halftime lead en route to their fifth road victory in a row.

The Knicks were loudly booed off the court at halftime and eventually trailed by 46 in losing to Dallas for the seventh consecutive time.

Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki had all 23 of his points in the first half. Nazr Mohammed had 14 points for New York but may have set the tone with airballs on the Knicks’ first two possessions.

Sacramento 104, Washington 93 -- Peja Stojakovic scored 26 points at Sacramento to lead the Kings to their 16th victory in their last 19 games. The Kings, however, lost top reserve Bobby Jackson late in the first half to a sprained right wrist. His status was not known.

Gilbert Arenas had 22 points for the Wizards.

New Jersey 94, Charlotte 91 -- Richard Jefferson scored 11 of the Nets’ final 14 points and finished with 26 to help end the Bobcats’ five-game, home-winning streak.

Kareem Rush had 23 points for Charlotte, which made only 15 of 29 free throws.

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Arbitrator Roger Kaplan said in New York that he would rule “in the next couple of days” on an appeal of the brawl-related suspensions given to four members of the Indiana Pacers.

The case is almost certain to move to federal court if Kaplan rules in favor of the players and orders reductions in the suspensions handed down by NBA Commissioner David Stern.

Ron Artest was suspended for the rest of the season, Stephen Jackson received a 30-game suspension, Jermaine O’Neal 25 and Anthony Johnson six for their roles in a Nov. 19 brawl with fans in Auburn Hills, Mich.

The NBA declined to participate in the process, saying Kaplan had no jurisdiction to arbitrate penalties for on-court behavior.