Miami star Shaquille O'Neal scored a season-high 32 points to lead the defending champion Heat in a 105-91 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Friday's National Basketball Association play.
O'Neal also pulled-down nine rebounds and Jason Williams added 20 points as the host Heat won their fifth straight game.
Philadelphia posted its sixth win in a row, enjoying a 108-92 thumping of the visiting Los Angeles Lakers. Andre Iguodala netted 31 points for Philadelphia, which is making a late push for the playoffs. L.A. star Kobe Bryant scored 21 points in his first game since serving a one-game suspension for striking a player in the face.
Atlanta's Josh Smith made the game-winning three-point play in the game's final 12 seconds as his Hawks edged the Memphis Grizzlies 106-105. Smith had 20 points for the night.
The Suns, Celtics, Rockets, Pistons and Warriors also won Friday.
The Phoenix Suns held off a late-game rally by the New Orleans to slip past the Hornets 104-103. The Boston Celtics beat the Seattle SuperSonics 118-103, the Houston Rockets got 34 points from Tracy McGrady in a 112-91 rout of the New Jersey Nets, and the Detroit Pistons broke a two-game skid in a 95-82 win over the Denver Nuggets. Also, the Golden State Warriors knocked off the Los Angeles Clippers 99-89.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
