Shaquille O'Neal scored 31 points wearing protective padding over sore ribs, and Dwyane Wade added 27 as the Miami Heat beat the Atlanta Hawks 116-102 Monday night to set a franchise record with their 12th straight victory.
The Heat, playing for the first time since their much-hyped Christmas Day win against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, eclipsed their record for consecutive wins set in 1997.
O'Neal wore a sleeveless T-shirt and padding underneath his jersey. The Heat did not immediately disclose the extent of the injury or when it occurred.
Antoine Walker, Tony Delk and Predrag Drobnjak had 16 points apiece for Atlanta, which lost for the sixth time in seven games.
Pistons 100, Nets 90, OT
In Auburn Hills, Michigan, a leg injury and an overtime loss to the Detroit Pistons ruined Vince Carter's debut for New Jersey.
Carter, traded from Toronto to the Nets on Dec. 17, hadn't played since straining an Achilles' tendon on Dec. 8. He scored 23 points, but limped off the court with 2:13 left in overtime with what appeared to be an injury to his left hamstring.
Detroit's Richard Hamilton had a season-best 37 points and Richard Jefferson scored 27 for the Nets.
Knicks 119, Magic 111
In Orlando, Florida, Stephon Marbury scored 34 points in New York's best offensive performance of the season.
Kurt Thomas, Allan Houston and Jerome Williams added 15 apiece points for the Knicks, who set season highs in points and assists (29) and tied their season high for field goals made with 46.
Steve Francis scored 25 points and Cuttino Mobley added 24 for Orlando, playing for the first time after a four-day layoff.
Pacers 100, Hornets 82
In Indianapolis, Reggie Miller scored 24 points and Jermaine O'Neal added 16 to go with 11 rebounds for Indiana.
O'Neal was 7-for-15 in his second game after missing 15 games for his role in a brawl with Detroit fans on Nov. 19.
Lee Nailon had a season-high 28 points for New Orleans, which has lost its sixth straight game and 17th of 18.
Wizards 106, Bobcats 87
In Washington, Larry Hughes had 20 points and Gilbert Arenas 17 to lead the Wizards, who bounced back from tying a season low for points in a 109-74 loss.
Emeka Okafor had 18 points and 11 rebounds for Charlotte, extending his streak of consecutive double-doubles to 16.
Grizzlies 96, Clippers 76
In Memphis, Tennessee, Pau Gasol had 18 of his 24 points in the first half, and the Grizzlies rolled over slumping Los Angeles.
Bonzi Wells added 18 points for Memphis, which snapped a two-game losing streak. Corey Maggette scored 14 points for the Clippers, losers for the seventh time in eight games.
SuperSonics 98, Jazz 88
In Salt Lake City, Rashard Lewis scored 22 points and Ray Allen 19 as Seattle won in Utah for the first time in nine tries.
Matt Harpring scored 22 points for the Jazz, who lost for the fifth time in six games. Utah, last beaten at home by Seattle on Feb. 1, 2000, committed 23 turnovers.
76ers 111, Trail Blazers 104
In Portland, Oregon, Allen Iverson overcame early shooting problems to score 28 points for Philadelphia.
Other result: Warriors 104, Nuggets 101
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Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
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