Miami
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
Despite Shaquille O'Neal's 24 points in 33 minutes on 10-of-19 shooting, despite Michael Doleac's 12 rebounds, despite Dwyane Wade's 18 points and 8 assists, and despite even a 30-19 fourth quarter advtange, the Heat fell to the Magic last night 109-103. It was their last exhibition game and the first time Shaq played against the Magic in a Heat uniform.
Shaq says it was first-half doldrums, or possibly not getting out of the gate with as much intensity as needed, that was the culprit. "We really let them outrun us and get easy shots," O'Neal toldThe Florida Ledger. "They just had a little more effort than we did."
Doleac finished with an impressive double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds as well as two assists. Four of his rebounds were on the offensive boards, a statistic in which he led all players. Shaq got three offensive boards, as did Dwight Howard and Tony Battie for the Magic. Overall, the Magic outrebounded the Heat 49-39.
NEXT GAME
The Heat (4-3 in the preseason) tip-off the season with their highest expectations ever next Wednesday, November 3rd, as they travel to New Jersey to take on the Nets (3-4 in the preseason, one game remaining). The game will be broadcast everywhere, including the Sunshine network and ESPN. The game starts at 8:00pm Eastern.
TEAM NOTES
The Miami Herald notes: On Nov. 14, Temple Samu-El Or Olom presents the Miami Heat Basketball Team. A chartered bus leaves the Temple at 5:15 p.m. Tipoff is at 6 p.m. Cost: $40 per person. Optional roundtrip chartered bus transportation is $7.50 per person. Tickets and bus seats are limited. Contact the synagogue to make reservations. Daily Minyan is at 7:30 p.m. Mondays. For further information call 305-271-5756. E-mail: tsoo spanish@earthlink.net. Website: www.tsoomiami.org.
INJURY UPDATE
Udonis Haslem(bruised left foot) did not practice Sunday and is listed as day-to-day. X-rays were negative, which is a technically ambiguous phrase that could mean the news from the X-rays was either missing or bad, but that's the phrase people use to say that the X-rays suggest nothing is broken, so that's the phrase we'll stick to.
Woody Woodburn ofThe Daily Breezewrites: The Lakers lost when O'Neal was dealt to the Miami Heat. But it turns out O'Neal is The Biggest Loser ... ... of about 30 pounds.That's right, he has not only shed his familiar No. 34 for No. 32, but has shed the anchor he had been dragging up and down the court. On the Lakers' roster, O'Neal was listed at 330. The past two seasons that figure was laughable. Now it's enough to make Laker fans cry, because it's accurate.
Dick Scanlon ofThe Florida Ledgerwrites: The Magic (4-3) scored 62 points on 53 percent shooting in the first half before an announced crowd of 12,571. They led by as many as 21 points in the third quarter before O'Neal led a Heat charge."In the first half, we really let them outrun us and get easy shots," said O'Neal. "They just had a little more effort than we did."