Celtics’ 25-Point Lead Is No Sweat for Heat

Accustomed to comebacks, the Miami Heat staged its most improbable rally yet.

Dwyane Wade scored one basket in the first 22 1/2 minutes but finished with 30 points, helping the Heat erase a 25-point deficit Thursday night to beat the Boston Celtics, 107-104, at Miami.

The comeback matched the largest in the NBA this season. Chicago rallied from a 25-point deficit to beat Charlotte on Nov. 2.

“They shot the ball well early,” said Miami’s Shaquille O’Neal, who had 26 points and 11 rebounds. “What comes out of the microwave hot doesn’t always stay hot. I know, because I eat bagels in the morning.”

Boston’s Orien Greene missed a three-point shot at the buzzer that would have forced overtime had it gone in.

Miami trailed, 59-34, late in the second quarter and has been behind at halftime in seven of its last eight games, though it has lost only one of them.

Coach Pat Riley is less than thrilled with the pattern, however, saying, “If you really want to be respected and take the step to the next level, I don’t think just winning is enough. You can’t be a Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde team.”

Paul Pierce had 34 points and Wally Szczerbiak scored 30 for the Celtics.

Golden State 105, Minnesota 97 -- Mike Dunleavy scored 17 of his season-high 24 points in the fourth quarter at Oakland to help send the Timberwolves to their seventh straight loss overall and team-record eight in a row on the road.

Kevin Garnett had 20 points and 17 rebounds for Minnesota, which also ended a six-game trip without a victory for the first time in team history.

Seattle 102, Philadelphia 98 -- Ray Allen scored 25 points at Seattle to help drop the 76ers to 0-2 since leading scorer Allen Iverson was sidelined Sunday by a foot injury. Steven Hunter had a career-high 20 points and blocked six shots for the 76ers, who also got 20 points from Chris Webber.

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After days of feuding, New York Knick Coach Larry Brown and point guard Stephon Marbury met. “He told me he could do whatever he wants with this franchise, and that he doesn’t want to trade me,” Marbury said. “And that he wanted me to be here and that everything that basically went on throughout the last week was over with.” Brown and Marbury had fought through the media since last weekend when the guard criticized the coach’s offense.... Indiana Pacer forward Jermaine O’Neal is getting close in his recovery from a torn groin muscle, though there is no timetable for his return, the team said. O’Neal hasn’t played since Jan. 24.... Golden State Warrior guard Baron Davis will be sidelined at least another week by his sprained right ankle, the team said. Davis has played sparingly in six games since returning from a seven-game absence after the Feb. 11 injury.... Denver Nugget guard Earl Boykins will be sidelined four to five weeks after breaking his left hand during Wednesday’s victory over Indiana.