Heat Loses O’Neal, Then the Game

The Miami Heat hopes it lost only a game Tuesday night after Shaquille O’Neal limped off because of a knee injury in the opening minutes.

Long after O’Neal left, Ben Gordon made five three-point baskets in the fourth quarter and overtime and scored 29 points to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 105-101 victory at Chicago.

O’Neal suffered what the team called a strained left knee after he went up for an alley-oop pass from Dwyane Wade and fell on Chicago’s Othella Harrington. O’Neal stayed on the floor for several minutes holding his knee before being helped off. X-rays were negative and he will likely undergo an MRI exam today.

O’Neal left without commenting, limping to the team bus while surrounded by security guards.

Point guard Damon Jones said O’Neal told teammates, “I’ll be OK.”

After Eddie Jones tied it, 92-92, at the buzzer in regulation, scoring off Damon Jones’ airball, Gordon scored the first eight points in overtime and the Bulls never trailed again. Gordon also had 11 of the Bulls’ points in a 15-6 run to overcome an 86-77 Miami lead.

Wade had 21 points, 11 assists and six rebounds for Miami.

Toronto 100, New Jersey 82 -- Vince Carter struggled in his first game against the team that traded him to New Jersey earlier this season, missing 17 of 25 shots while being outplayed by Jalen Rose in a loss to the Raptors at East Rutherford, N.J.

Rose made 12 of 15 shots, scored 30 points and defended Carter, who seemed to be pressing in a game that he acknowledged meant a lot to him. Carter scored 22 points.

Seattle 87, Houston 85 -- Ray Allen had 29 points, capped by two free throws with 16.7 seconds left, to help the visiting SuperSonics snap the Rockets’ eight-game winning streak.

Houston had a final chance with five seconds left but Scott Padgett’s three-point attempt was short. Yao Ming led Houston with 30 points.

Detroit 97, New York 88 -- Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince scored 19 points apiece at Auburn Hills, Mich., to lead the Pistons to their fifth straight victory and 10th in 11 games.

Piston Coach Larry Brown (flu) was replaced by assistant Gar Heard.

Indiana 108, Orlando 84 -- Jermaine O’Neal scored 20 points in 22 minutes at Orlando, Fla., and the Pacers used a 22-0 run spanning the second and third quarters to hand the Magic its worst loss of the season.

Orlando’s Steve Francis missed eight of 10 shots and had six points, one assist and four turnovers after being fined for missing a practice after failing to catch his flight from Houston on Monday.

Sacramento 114, Atlanta 104 -- Chris Webber scored 30 points at Sacramento to help the Kings win for only the second time in their last eight games. Mike Bibby scored 23 points for Sacramento.

Milwaukee 112, Charlotte 102 -- After missing three games because of a sprained index finger, Michael Redd returned with 39 points in the Bucks’ victory at Charlotte, N.C.