Mobley gives Clippers a lift

MIAMI -- Ricky Davis nearly had a Dwyane Wade-like finish but instead added to the Miami Heat’s season-long misery.

Cuttino Mobley made two free throws with 2.6 seconds left and had 29 points, and the Clippers beat Miami, 99-98, on Monday, only hours after Wade was sidelined for the season.

Davis scored 27 points and had a chance to win the game with the Heat down by one point, but his 17-foot jumper hit the rim twice and bounced out.

“It was a good look, it was what we wanted, it just didn’t go down,” Davis said. “It’s tough; that’s the kind of year we’ve been having.”

The Heat went ahead, 98-97, on Davis’ free throw with five seconds left. Mobley then drew a foul from Mark Blount while driving to the basket with 2.6 seconds to go and made both free throws to give the Clippers the lead for good.

Corey Maggette and Al Thornton each had 22 points for the Clippers, who won for only the second time in their last 10 games. It was the sixth consecutive loss for the Heat and third in a row at home.

“We just pulled it out,” said Mobley, who had 18 second-half points. “They made some shots in the second half and got themselves back into it. We got lackadaisical.”

The Clippers ended a losing streak at two games.

“Mobley gave us a big lift,” Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “In the second half he brought us back.”

Daequan Cook had a career-high 23 points for Miami.

The Heat, which started the game with the NBA minimum of eight players, mounted a comeback that fell short in their league-worst 51st loss.

Jason Williams tied the score at 94-94 with a three-point basket with 1:13 left. The Clippers reclaimed the lead on two foul shots by Maggette with 53 seconds to go.

“It was a collective effort,” Maggette said. “They came at us with all they had. We’re just glad we were able to withstand their big run.”