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Birthday-boy Shaq enjoys double celebration as Heat win
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-03-07 13:56
NEW YORK, March 6 (Reuters) - Shaquille O'Neal celebrated huis 34th birthday
with 35 points in leading the Miami Heat to a 106-105 overtime victory over the
Charlotte Bobcats in National Basketball Association play at Charlotte Arena on
Monday.
Scoring all of Miami's eight overtime points, O'Neal made all four of his
shot attempts in the extra session as the Heat struggled to overcome the Bobcats
for a season-high ninth straight win.
O'Neal also hauled down 12 rebounds and told reporters after the game he
intended to celebrate his birthday quietly after the difficult win.
"It'll be a pretty low key night,' O'Neal said.
"Actually every day is my birthday."
It was the Bobcats who appeared set to celebrate on Monday when they took
advantage of Miani guard Dwyane Wade's absence to take an early 15-point lead.
Wade sat out once again with a sprained wrist as the Heat struggled early
without their leading scorer.
Charlotte led 59-52 at the half and by eight points after three quarters, but
the Heat out-scored the Bobcats 31-23 in the fourth quarter to set the stage for
overtime.
Jason Williams added 24 points for the Heat, while Udonis Haslem had 16
points and 13 rebounds.
Antoine Walker also scored 16 points for the Heat, who improved to 39-20, the
second best record in the Eastern Conference behind the Detroit Pistons.
Gerald Wallace had 26 points and 15 rebounds for the Bobcats, while Brevin
Knight had 24 points and 11 assists.
Raymond Felton added 19 points for the Bobcats, who lost their second
straight to slip to 16-45.
Miami coach Pat Riley told reporters that O'Neal was the difference in the
game.
"He's playing extremely well, we're winning and he's stepping up," Riley
said.
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