Pushing for a better playoff seeding, Miami’s third straight victory and ninth in 12 games lifted the Heat into the No. 6 slot in the Eastern Conference, a half game ahead of idle Charlotte.

The Bulls have lost 11 of 13, including a 10-game losing streak, and are currently in ninth place in the East.

O’Neal shot 9 for 14, Michael Beasley added 15 points and Udonis Haslem14 on a night when Dwyane Wade scored only 12 in 29 minutes—14.5 under his average. Wade did have 10 assists and five rebounds.

Hakim Warrick scored 14 points and Taj Gibson and Derrick Rosehad 12 each for the Bulls.

Clippers 99  Rockets 93: In Houston, Craig Smith scored a season-high 25 points and had 10 rebounds as Los Angeles ended an 11-game road losing streak.

Drew Gooden had 17 points and 14 rebounds, Baron Davis scored 16 points and Eric Gordon added 14 for the Clippers, who hadn’t won on the road since Feb. 2.

Trevor Ariza and Aaron Brooks each scored 18 points, and Luis Scolahad 16 points and 14 rebounds for Houston.

Trail Blazers 101 Mavericks 89: In Portland, Ore., LaMarcus Aldridge had 20 points and 10 rebounds and Portland defeated Dallas for the third time this season.

Marcus Camby added 17 points and 11 rebounds for Portland, which won the season series from the Mavericks for the first time since the 1998-99 season.

Portland has won five straight at home and six of its last seven games overall.

Caron Butler had 25 points for Dallas, which has lost four of its last five games after a 13-game winning streak.
 
Arenas to be sentenced in gun incident

Meanwhile, suspended Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas should soon learn whether he will serve jail time for a felony gun conviction stemming from a locker-room confrontation with a teammate.

Arenas faces a sentencing hearing Friday afternoon in D.C. Superior Court. He pleaded guilty earlier this year to violating the city’s gun laws by bringing four guns to Verizon Center as part of what he says was a misguided prank on teammate Javaris Crittenton. The two had argued a few days earlier over an unpaid debt from a card game.

While Arenas said the guns were props in a joke, prosecutors say Crittenton had good reason to think Arenas’ threats were genuine.

Prosecutors want Arenas to serve three months in jail. Defense lawyers are asking for community service.