Wade Lifts Miami to Win

Ordinarily, Shaquille O’Neal would be around the basket and helping Miami guard precarious leads in the closing seconds.

He wasn’t there Saturday, still nursing a sprained left knee, but Dwyane Wade filled his role nicely.

Wade scored 14 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and blocked a layup try by Steve Francis with 10.2 seconds left to help secure the Heat’s 101-98 victory over the Orlando Magic at Miami.

“I don’t get animated too much. When I do, there’s a cause behind it,” said Wade, who displayed plenty of emotion down the stretch. “I was excited at that moment, trying to get my team going and let everybody know that we were going to win the game.”

O’Neal should be back shortly, but the center said when he hurt his knee in a game Tuesday at Chicago he feared the worst.

“It didn’t feel right when I landed,” O’Neal said. “I thought it was over.

“I’ve always had fears of ending my career like that,” O’Neal added. “As a youngster, when I’d talk to certain people and they would try to motivate us to go to school, the first thing they’d always say was ‘What are you going to do when you blow your knee out?’ ... I’ve always had fears of coming down freakily like that.”

Phoenix 124, Dallas 123 -- Joe Johnson made a 16-foot shot with 4.7 seconds left, then Shawn Marion blocked Dirk Nowitzki from behind on a driving layup, giving the Suns a victory over the Mavericks at Dallas.

Johnson’s shot over newly acquired Keith Van Horn capped a 7-0 run over the final 1:46. Then Nowitzki appeared headed for the winner when Marion flew in behind him and swatted at the ball as the 7-foot German held it over his head. The ball went into the rim and Marion grabbed it, securing the victory and ending Dallas’ six-game winning streak.

Memphis 84, San Antonio 82 -- Earl Watson made a 14-foot fadeaway shot with 17 seconds left and Shane Battier made a steal on the final play at San Antonio as the Grizzlies handed the Spurs only their second loss in 26 home games.

San Antonio had a season-high 24 turnovers.

New York 90, Indiana 79 -- Stephon Marbury scored 21 points at New York to lead the Knicks to their second consecutive victory. The Pacers were playing without Jeff Foster (back spasms) and Jamaal Tinsley (bruised left foot).

Chicago 94, Charlotte 90 -- Ben Gordon’s three-point basket secured the Bulls’ victory over the Bobcats at Charlotte, N.C. Antonio Davis led Chicago with 20 points.