Heat Score 56 for Latest Low Point

A surprisingly bad season took an embarrassing turn for the worse Tuesday night for the Miami Heat.

The Heat was held to the fourth-lowest point total in NBA history, losing, 95-56, to the Utah Jazz at Miami for its 18th defeat in 23 games.

Miami tied the franchise record for fewest points in a game, and its fans let the players know about it with a chorus of boos throughout. Miami also scored 56 points against Charlotte last Dec. 20.

“I spent the whole game speechless,” Heat forward Brian Grant said. “It was a lack of execution both offensively and defensively. They’re a veteran team and they just outworked us.”

“It’s over, but we’re professionals and we’re all better than that effort tonight.”

It was the Heat’s lowest-scoring home game in franchise history. The previous low of 65 came against Boston in its inaugural 1988-89 season.

The Heat scored 23 first-half points--four more than the NBA record low--and made only 27.7% of its shots.

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New York 100, Charlotte 95--Latrell Sprewell scored 13 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter at Charlotte, N.C., to help the Knicks end their four-game losing streak.

Sprewell made a pair of free throws with 12 seconds to play that sealed the win and helped the Knicks avoid their first five-game losing streak since the 1995-96 season.

Sacramento 102, Detroit 98--Mike Bibby had 25 points and seven assists as the Kings improved to 13-1 at home.

Chris Webber had 19 points and 14 rebounds as the Kings held off the Pistons in a tense fourth quarter despite a season-high 35 points from Jerry Stackhouse, including 13 in the fourth.

Cleveland 102, Chicago 84--Wesley Person scored 22 points and shot the Cavaliers out of trouble at Cleveland in the second half as the Bulls dropped to 0-13 on the road this season.

Indiana 103, Atlanta 100--Jermaine O’Neal gave the Pacers the lead for good by making two free throws with 23.4 seconds left at Atlanta as the Hawks’ three-game winning streak was ended.

Dallas 107, Minnesota 103--Tim Hardaway scored five points in the final minute at Minneapolis--including the go-ahead three-pointer with 18 seconds left--as the Mavericks overcame a 22-point, third-quarter deficit.

Milwaukee 114, Vancouver 105--Ray Allen scored 26 points and the Bucks used a 13-0 run in the fourth quarter to defeat the Grizzlies at Memphis, Tenn.

Portland 101, Houston 92--Ruben Patterson had 23 points and 11 rebounds at Houston as the Trail Blazers extended the Rockets’ losing streak to 14 games.

San Antonio 102, Denver 93--Tim Duncan had 24 points and 16 rebounds at Denver, and the Spurs won their eighth consecutive and fourth in a row on the road.

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The Houston Rockets put forward Glen Rice on the injured list with an injured tendon in his right knee and replaced him on the roster with Jason Collier. ... Charlotte Hornet forward George Lynch, out all season because of a broken foot, hopes to be cleared to begin practicing this week and be back in the lineup by Jan. 7. ... The Minnesota Timberwolves put point guard Terrell Brandon on the injured list because of an injured left knee and activated rookie guard Maurice Evans. ... The rape and assault cases against Utah Jazz player DeShawn Stevenson were postponed until Jan. 11 while lawyers try to negotiate a plea deal.