TORONTO, 28 April 2005 — Alonzo Mourning nailed a season-high 21 points and snared nine rebounds as the Miami Heat thumped the New Jersey Nets 104-87 on Tuesday to take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal.
The best-of-seven series now shifts to New Jersey for Game Three on Thursday, with the Nets in desperate need of win.
It was a frustrating night for the Nets, who did a solid job controlling the Heat’s two all-stars, holding Shaquille O’Neal to 14 points and Dwyane Wade to 17.
But an inspired Mourning, who began the season in New Jersey before demanding a trade, stepped in to take up the slack, making several big baskets and keying pivotal runs.
“I have been working my whole career for one goal and that’s to win a championship,” the 35-year-old Mourning said.
As in Game One, the Nets made a quick start in racing to a 7-0 lead before the Heat gained control and led 48-39 going into the intermission. After the break, the Heat turned up the pressure, with Mourning hitting the final eight points in a 19-8 third quarter run as Miami extended their advantage to 72-52.
Eddie Jones and Damon Jones contributed 14 points each to the Heat cause while Nenad Krstic paced the Nets with a playoff career-high 27 points for New Jersey. Vince Carter chipped in with 21 points for the Nets with Richard Jefferson adding 14 and Jason Kidd 10.
In Auburn Hills, Richard Hamilton poured in 23 points and Chauncey Billups added 20 as the defending champions Detroit Pistons rolled to a 99-84 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, taking a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal. Rasheed Wallace contributed 15 points for to the Pistons and Antonio McDyess provided another stellar effort coming off the bench adding 12 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots.
The series now shifts to Philadelphia where the 76ers will try to erase a 2-0 series deficit for the first time in franchise history. NBA scoring champion Allen Iverson had an off night, hitting just 19 points and dishing out 10 assists.
Chris Webber added 15 points and Samuel Dalembert had 14 points and 11 rebounds as the 76ers shot just 7-of-24 from the field.
In Seattle, Ray Allen had 26 points and Jerome James added 19 points and nine rebounds as the SuperSonics held off a late comeback bid by the Sacramento Kings to claim a 105-93 win and a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference best-of-seven quarterfinal. Rashard Lewis added 12 points for Seattle, while Vladimir Radmanovic had 10. Bobby Jackson had 17 points in a losing effort for the Kings, with Mike Bibby contributing 16 points and eight assists.
