Shaq's 33 points lead Heat over Raptors
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-01-27 11:24

Shaquille O'Neal had 33 points and 18 rebounds and Eddie Jones added 23 points to lead the Miami Heat past the Toronto Raptors 111-96 Wednesday night.

Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal makes a slam dunk during the second-half of their NBA game against the Raptors in Toronto, January 26, 2005. [Reuters]

Jones went 8-for-11 from the field for the Heat, who have won just six of their last 12 games. O'Neal suggested Jones needed to make more shots after Jones went 3-for-12 from the field in Monday's loss to Philadelphia.

Dwyane Wade had 16 points and 10 assists despite playing with a sore left knee and ankle.

Former Heat point guard Rafer Alston had a career-high 29 points and Chris Bosh added a career-high 27 for the Raptors, who had won their previous five home games. Bosh had 15 points in the first quarter, but played just one minute in the second quarter after picking up his third foul.

Miami started to pull away in the second quarter after Toronto put rail-thin Loren Woods on O'Neal, who scored seven straight points to give the Heat an 11-point lead with 2:52 left in the half. Jones' 3-pointer at the buzzer gave Miami a 15-point lead at halftime.

Toronto narrowed the lead to 10 points in the third quarter as Alston capped a 10-1 run by converting a three-point play, but Jones followed with consecutive jumpers and O'Neal dunked after he missed a free throw to give Miami a 15-point lead.

Wade's steal and layup made it a 20-point game with 9:57 remaining.

Both teams struggled from the line. Miami went 29-for-49, while Toronto went 31-for-45.

O'Neal made just seven of his 20 attempts from the line, but he went 13-for-19 from the field.

O'Neal tied a season-high with 15 defensive rebounds for the Heat, who outrebounded the Raptors 51-40. Miami also outscored Toronto 48-26 in the paint, and shot 53 percent compared to 38 percent for Toronto.

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