NBA: Miami Heat earned home court advantage without their biggest names
A second-string Miami Heat team triumphed 103-98 at the Washington Wizards to clinch home-court advantage.
Last Updated: 11/04/13 9:11am
Ray Allen came off the bench to score 23 points and Rashard Lewis chipped in with 17 as Miami claimed a franchise-record 62nd victory despite giving four starters the night off.
LeBron James (hamstring) and Dwyane Wade (ankle) relaxed on the end of the bench, Chris Bosh stayed at home with flu-like symptoms and Udonis Haslem sat out with an ankle injury, but the Heat still had enough talent on hand to make it four wins in a row.
The Wizards had a nine-game home winning streak halted despite 23 points from A.J. Price and a fine performance from John Wall, who had 17 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds.
The absence of the big names gave the game something of a low-key feel and neither team led by a double-figure margin until the Heat went 98-88 clear with 2:53 left, an Allen three-pointer having been the catalyst for a decisive run.
Asked how the second-stringers would rank if they played a whole season, Lewis said: "Most definitely, we would be a play-off team.
"Probably not a top-three team, but I think we'd be fighting for a play-off spot, because we've got a lot of veterans on the team, a lot of smart guys who know how to play the game."
In the Western Conference, Kobe Bryant set a Rose Garden record by an opponent with his season-high 47 points and the visiting Los Angeles Lakers beat Portland 113-106 to keep their play-off hopes very much alive.
Pau Gasol had 23 points and nine assists while Dwight Howard added 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who maintained their one-game hold on the eighth and final playoff spot in the West, with three games left to play.
