Suns Sweep Past the Heat

Raja Bell and James Jones enjoy playing in Miami. And the Phoenix Suns seem to thrive anywhere against the Heat.

Bell and Jones -- a pair of South Florida natives -- combined for 42 points, Steve Nash had 21 points and 14 assists, and Phoenix blew most of a 21-point second-half lead before beating Miami, 107-98, Thursday night.

Bell scored 22, and Jones had 20.

The Suns, who led 98-93 with 4:15 left, made 13 of 24 three-point attempts and 20 of 21 free-throw attempts in sweeping the two-game season series against Miami.

“We’ve got to realize that teams, when they come in here, they’re going to be playing way above their heads and we’ve got to step up and match their effort and match their energy,” said Heat center Shaquille O’Neal, who had 15 points and 12 rebounds. “We can’t shoot ourselves in the foot all the time. We’re not going to have any toes left.”

Dwyane Wade had 25 points for Miami, which fell to 0-6 against the teams with the NBA’s four best records: Phoenix, San Antonio, Dallas and Detroit.

Orlando 119, Philadelphia 115 -- Pat Garrity opened overtime with consecutive three-pointers and scored a season-high 24 points, and the Magic won at Philadelphia for its season-high fifth straight victory.

Allen Iverson had 38 points and 15 assists, and Chris Webber had 32 points and 11 rebounds for the 76ers, whose three-game winning streak ended.

Dallas 104, Seattle 97 -- Dirk Nowitzki scored 29 points, and the Mavericks overcame a 17-point first-quarter deficit to win their seventh in a row and finish a 5-0 trip. Rashard Lewis led Seattle with 36 points.