James Posey

Dwyane Wade scored 19 points and the Heat used a big third quarter to pull away to a 97-70 victory over the slumping Minnesota Timberwolves last night in Miami. Shaquille O'Neal had 16 points and Alonzo Mourning had 13 points and 10 rebounds for Miami, which allowed a season low in points, set a season high for margin of victory and held the Timberwolves to their lowest total this year. James Posey had 11 points and Gary Payton added 10 for the Heat (19-13), who outscored Minnesota, 56-26, in the second half and moved to a season-high six games over .500.

LeBron James scored 27 points - 18 in the second half - and Mo Williams added 23 as the Cleveland Cavaliers remained the NBA's only undefeated team at home with a 99-90 win last night over the Houston Rockets. Daniel Gibson made two big 3-pointers in the fourth quarter for the Cavaliers, who improved to 23-2 in their last 25 games and 14-0 at home. They did it against the Western Conference's best road team - Houston had won 11 straight road games against Eastern Conference teams dating to last season.

CLEVELAND - The fans began booing Celtics forward James Posey profusely every time he touched the ball Saturday night. Fouling Cavaliers star LeBron James hard, like Posey did in Game 3, a 108-84 Boston loss, can make people here turn on a Cleveland native quickly. But just a mile away from Quicken Loans Arena, at an inner-city recreation center nicknamed "The Bath House," Posey is a beloved role model whose popularity eclipses that of even King James. It's there that the Celtics forward affectionately known as "Mikely" reigns supreme.

The ear-piercing pyrotechnics were spectacular. A symbolic pit called "The Ring of Faith," including cards reading "15 Strong," sat on the hardwood floor at AmericanAirlines Arena. Highlights of the 2005-06 season were shown on mammoth video screens. And at the conclusion of the ceremony, the Miami Heat's 2006 NBA championship banner was raised to the rafters to the accompaniment of Gary Glitter's "Rock 'n' Roll Part 2 (Hey). " James Posey will never forget the glamorous celebration of his first NBA title with the Heat alongside the likes of Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade.

The Celtics have displayed interest in free agent forward Devean George, according to an NBA source. But general manager Danny Ainge is taking a "call us, we won't call you" stance on prospective players after announcing Tony Allen and Eddie House have agreed to two-year contracts with the team. "I'm not going to comment on any guys," Ainge said yesterday of available free agents. "I'm not chasing anybody down. I feel we have a solid team now and I'm going to take some time off. " Allen, who will be entering his fifth season with the Celtics, missed most of the 2006-07 season after tearing...

Kenyon Martin celebrated his first All-Star selection with 24 points and 13 rebounds and the New Jersey Nets remained unbeaten under coach Lawrence Frank with a 99-88 win over the Miami Heat last night at East Rutherford, N.J. Jason Kidd added 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists as the Nets won their sixth straight overall and their fifth in a row since Frank replaced Byron Scott. Scott's firing came three days after the two-time defending Eastern Conference champions were embarrassed by the Heat, dropping an 85-64 decision in Miami.

Dwyane Wade and Eddie Jones scored 17 points apiece to lead the Heat to their fourth consecutive victory and seventh in eight games, a 101-69 rout of fading Philadelphia yesterday at Miami. The 76ers have lost four in a row, are falling further back in the race for the final playoff spot, and are dealing with trade rumors surrounding star Allen Iverson. The Heat proved once again that when they are healthy, they are one of the Eastern Conference's best teams. They improved to 14-7 with a starting lineup of Wade, Jones, Caron Butler, Lamar Odom, and Brian Grant.

There was nothing fake about the New Jersey Nets' sweep of the New York Knicks. The defending Eastern Conference champions are in the second round of the NBA playoffs and are very much for real. Kenyon Martin shook off the verbal jabs from injured New York forward Tim Thomas and scored 36 points -- 13 in the fourth quarter -- to lead New Jersey to its third straight sweep in the Eastern Conference playoffs with a 100-94 victory last night at Madison Square Garden. Thomas, who missed his third straight game because of back spasms, sat on the bench in uniform but...

Kobe Bryant wrote another chapter in Lakers history last night, following a 65-point game by scoring 50 against Minnesota, and Los Angeles extended the Timberwolves' road losing streak to 10 games with a 109-102 victory. After shooting 23 for 39 from the field in Friday's overtime victory against Portland, Bryant was 17 for 35 against the Timberwolves. Last season's scoring champ helped secure the victory with a critical 3-point play after Minnesota sliced a 19-point deficit to 95-92 on Ricky Davis's 3-pointer from the left sideline with 2:55 to play.

For the Miami Heat, this might have been rock bottom. On a day when coach Pat Riley deactivated two forwards whose body-fat readings aren't within team parameters, then began an indefinite leave of absence because of knee and hip problems, the defending NBA champions continued their free fall. Elton Brand scored 28 points and Chris Kaman added 20 as the visiting Los Angeles Clippers easily beat Miami, 110-95, last night, dealing the Heat their fourth straight loss. "We caught a team that was really shorthanded," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said.

The Hornets were primed to pull off an improbable comeback until Kobe Bryant made it impossible. Bryant scored 20 points, highlighted by a tough 3-pointer over James Posey with just over a minute left, and the Los Angeles Lakers improved to 7-0 with a 93-86 victory in New Orleans last night. "I just wanted to shoot it in his face," Bryant said of the late 3-pointer. "I knew I was due. " The dramatic and deflating shot stemmed a frantic 17-4 Hornets run and put the Lakers ahead, 86-80, with 1:08 to go. "I knew Posey was going to sit on my arm, so I just had to back him up and try to shoot it,"...

The Celtics have displayed interest in free agent forward Devean George, according to an NBA source. But general manager Danny Ainge is taking a "call us, we won't call you" stance on prospective players after announcing Tony Allen and Eddie House have agreed to two-year contracts with the team. "I'm not going to comment on any guys," Ainge said yesterday of available free agents. "I'm not chasing anybody down. I feel we have a solid team now and I'm going to take some time off. " Allen, who will be entering his fifth season with the Celtics, missed most of the 2006-07 season...

WALTHAM - At 12:01 a.m. yesterday, Celtics general manager Danny Ainge made an expected call to one of his free agents, swingman James Posey. Not long after, Ainge also placed calls to several other free agents throughout the league, including Clippers forward Corey Maggette. On the first day of free agency in the NBA, the world champion Celtics, according to an NBA source, made contract offers to both Posey and Maggette. Since Boston, at most, has a mid-level exception available (expected to be about $5.8 million)

CLEVELAND - The fans began booing Celtics forward James Posey profusely every time he touched the ball Saturday night. Fouling Cavaliers star LeBron James hard, like Posey did in Game 3, a 108-84 Boston loss, can make people here turn on a Cleveland native quickly. But just a mile away from Quicken Loans Arena, at an inner-city recreation center nicknamed "The Bath House," Posey is a beloved role model whose popularity eclipses that of even King James. It's there that the Celtics forward affectionately known as "Mikely" reigns supreme.

LeBron James sat in front of his locker, both feet settled into a rectangular gray tub of ice water. He read from the final box score. "A lot of shots I didn't make," James said. "Layups, pull-ups. The last one. The ball was all the way in, it just jumped out. It was a symbol of the type of night I had. " What a night. LeBron made only 2 of 18 shots in a 4-point playoff loss to the Celtics. He committed 10 turnovers. He had 9 rebounds and 9 assists to go with his measly 12 points.

Kobe Bryant wrote another chapter in Lakers history last night, following a 65-point game by scoring 50 against Minnesota, and Los Angeles extended the Timberwolves' road losing streak to 10 games with a 109-102 victory. After shooting 23 for 39 from the field in Friday's overtime victory against Portland, Bryant was 17 for 35 against the Timberwolves. Last season's scoring champ helped secure the victory with a critical 3-point play after Minnesota sliced a 19-point deficit to 95-92 on Ricky Davis's 3-pointer from the left sideline with 2:55 to play.

The Miami Heat won their season-best sixth straight game by running past the Magic, 105-90, last night in Orlando, Fla. Eddie Jones scored 17 of his 28 points in the third quarter, and Lamar Odom had 20 points and 14 rebounds for his 33d double-double. Dwyane Wade added 24 points and seven assists. Miami shot 48.8 percent, with 54 points in the paint and 31 on fast breaks. The Heat also made 20 of 21 free throws. Jones started 1 for 7 from the floor, but finished with a 10-for-15 burst.

The Hornets were primed to pull off an improbable comeback until Kobe Bryant made it impossible. Bryant scored 20 points, highlighted by a tough 3-pointer over James Posey with just over a minute left, and the Los Angeles Lakers improved to 7-0 with a 93-86 victory in New Orleans last night. "I just wanted to shoot it in his face," Bryant said of the late 3-pointer. "I knew I was due. " The dramatic and deflating shot stemmed a frantic 17-4 Hornets run and put the Lakers ahead, 86-80, with 1:08 to go. "I knew Posey was going to sit on my arm, so I just had to back...

For the Miami Heat, this might have been rock bottom. On a day when coach Pat Riley deactivated two forwards whose body-fat readings aren't within team parameters, then began an indefinite leave of absence because of knee and hip problems, the defending NBA champions continued their free fall. Elton Brand scored 28 points and Chris Kaman added 20 as the visiting Los Angeles Clippers easily beat Miami, 110-95, last night, dealing the Heat their fourth straight loss. "We caught a team that was really shorthanded," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said.

Dwyane Wade scored 19 points and the Heat used a big third quarter to pull away to a 97-70 victory over the slumping Minnesota Timberwolves last night in Miami. Shaquille O'Neal had 16 points and Alonzo Mourning had 13 points and 10 rebounds for Miami, which allowed a season low in points, set a season high for margin of victory and held the Timberwolves to their lowest total this year. James Posey had 11 points and Gary Payton added 10 for the Heat (19-13), who outscored Minnesota, 56-26, in the second half and moved to a season-high six games over .500.