Shaq Sparks Surging Heat Past T-Wolves

MIAMI - Shaquille O'Neal made his first seven shots and scored a season-high 32 points, Jason Williams added 20 points and the surging Miami Heat beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 105-91 on Friday night.

O'Neal finished 13-of-16 from the field and added nine rebounds. Williams shot 9-for-13 and Eddie Jones had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Heat, who shot 58 percent to win their fifth straight overall, 11th in a row at home and move within 2 1/2 games of Washington for the Southeast Division lead.

Kevin Garnett had 23 points and 11 rebounds and Ricky Davis added 21 points for Minnesota, which lost for the seventh time in nine games.

There was a 20-minute delay before the second half could start because the basket the Heat were to shoot at was damaged by a halftime-show performer who was hanging on the rim. The entire structure - backboard, frame and all - was wheeled out of the arena and a backup was put in place.

But it clearly didn't affect the Heat, who shot 68 percent in the first 14 minutes of the second half and never trailed after the lengthy intermission.

O'Neal scored 15 points in the opening quarter, his best one-period total of the season, with the last five of those coming in a 29-second span to put Miami up 22-17 early.

And although Minnesota hung around most of the way, the Heat - now 6-2 since leading scorer and reigning NBA finals MVP Dwyane Wade dislocated his left shoulder - wouldn't trail again.

Garnett hit a left-wing jumper with 9:03 left in the third to get Minnesota within 59-53, but consecutive baskets by O'Neal rebuilt a 10-point edge. Williams had 12 points in the third, including two 3-pointers, and Alonzo Mourning had eight straight Miami points over a 3-minute stretch to build a 13-point edge with 10:20 left.

It was the ninth time in franchise history that Miami - which shot 55 percent in Wednesday's 103-70 win over Chicago - has shot 55 percent or better in consecutive games.

James Posey scored 10 points for the Heat, who outrebounded the Timberwolves 40-28.

Mark Blount finished with 17 points for Minnesota, and Randy Foye had all 12 of his points in the fourth.

Notes:@ The Heat wore special black uniforms for "Noche Latina" - Latin Night - with flags of 20 Spanish-speaking nations, plus Portugese-speaking Brazil, adorning the trim. Phoenix, San Antonio and the Los Angeles Lakers, teams with large Hispanic fan bases, are also participating in the initiative, and the Heat will wear theirs again Sunday against Washington. ... Minnesota was 3-for-12 from 3-point range. ... Wade said his rehab is going along on schedule, and Heat forward Jason Kapono (ankle sprain) expects to get his protective cast removed in about a week. ... Garnett has led the Timberwolves in rebounding 58 times in 61 games. ... Minnesota F Mark Madsen (sprained ankle) played for the first time since Feb. 21.