Butler Heats It Up, Leads Miami to Win

Scoring hasn’t been the Miami Heat’s forte this season.

That didn’t keep it from giving the Houston Rockets a lesson in shooting.

Caron Butler scored 24 points as the Heat made 51% of its field goals and held off a late charge by the Rockets to win, 94-82, Friday night at Houston.

The Heat ranks next to last in league scoring this season, but it never trailed although the Rockets rallied briefly in the third quarter from a 56-41 halftime deficit.

The Heat also won without Eddie Jones, who has a groin injury and remained in Miami for treatment.

Steve Francis scored 27 points for the Rockets, who shot only 33% from the field. Yao Ming had 10 points for the Rockets.

Philadelphia 99, Orlando 98 -- Allen Iverson scored 20 points, including a free throw with 2.9 seconds left, to help the 76ers seal a victory at Philadelphia. Tracy McGrady had 37 points, including a tying three-pointer with 8.7 seconds left.

New York 116, Phoenix 115 -- Allan Houston scored 26 points and Kurt Thomas had 24 points for the Knicks, who won at Phoenix only after the Suns’ Stephon Marbury missed a shot in the final seconds.

Milwaukee 96, Detroit 86 -- Tim Thomas scored 21 points and the Bucks held the Pistons scoreless for seven minutes in the fourth quarter with a tough zone defense to win at Milwaukee and end Detroit’s winning streak at six.

Indiana 98, Atlanta 97 -- Reggie Miller scored 26 points and had seven three-point baskets, including two in the final minute of overtime, to lift the Pacers at Indianapolis.

Sacramento 110, Seattle 81 -- Keon Clark had 18 points, 14 rebounds and six blocked shots, and the Kings shot 67% in the first three quarters at Sacramento.

Utah 109, Washington 77 -- Karl Malone had 23 points and 11 rebounds to help the Jazz welcome back Coach Jerry Sloan after a seven-game suspension with a win at Salt Lake City.

Dallas 110, Memphis 103 -- Dirk Nowitzki made 12 of 19 shots and scored 31 points to lead the Mavericks to a win at Memphis, Tenn., and win for the first time in four games.

Golden State 118, Toronto 114 -- Antawn Jamison scored 32 points and Jason Richardson added 25 to help the Warriors win in overtime for their third consecutive road victory.

Minnesota 114, New Orleans 93 -- Troy Hudson made four three-point baskets in the first quarter and scored 22 points for the Timberwolves at Minneapolis.

New Jersey 90, Chicago 72 -- Kerry Kittles scored 21 points at East Rutherford, N.J., and the Nets won for the first time in three games by beating the team with the NBA’s worst road record.

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Orlando Magic forward Shawn Kemp was reinstated by the NBA, three days after he was suspended without pay for violating the league’s anti-drug policy for the third time. Kemp told Coach Doc Rivers that the suspension was because he missed a drug test, not because he had failed a test.