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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, March 5, 2010

O'Neal takes charge for Heat


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Jermaine O'Neal

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MIAMI — Jermaine O'Neal called it, telling teammates in overtime that the next time someone drove the lane he would be there to take the charge.

That someone was Kobe Bryant.

And O'Neal delivered.

O'Neal stood his ground with 18.7 seconds left in the extra session and Bryant was whistled for an offensive foul. It was the final turning point as the Miami Heat beat the Los Angeles Lakers, 114-111, last night.

There were 19 ties and 31 lead changes, two more than any game in the league in 2009-10.

"He was there. He stepped up," said Dwyane Wade, who led the Heat with 27 points and 14 assists. "I saw it coming the whole way. That's J.O. — J.O. not only protects the basket by being a shotblocker, but he also protects it because he can take charges. And that's great. Everybody did their job tonight."

Bryant went left, looking for a layup that would have tied the game. Instead, O'Neal drew his team-best 19th charge of the season, and teammate Carlos Arroyo hit two free throws with 0.6 seconds left.

Bryant scored 39 points, including the overtime-forcing jumper with 3.3 seconds for the Lakers.

GRIZZLIES 105, BULLS 96

Zach Randolph scored 31 points and grabbed 18 rebounds, and visiting Memphis rallied from a 17-point, second-quarter deficit to rally past Chicago.

The Grizzlies trailed 49-32 with 3:49 left in the second quarter, but closed to 51-45 at halftime. tied it in the third and finally took control with an 8-0 run late in the fourth that gave them a 97-90 lead with 2:45 left.

JAZZ 116, SUNS 108

Deron Williams scored 13 of his 27 points during a 41-point fourth quarter, Mehmet Okur added 24 points, and visiting Utah rallied from a 12-point final-period deficit to beat Phoenix.

The Jazz trailed 98-86 early in the fourth quarter, then reeled off 12 straight points to tie the game and took the lead for good on a 3-pointer by Williams with 1:36 remaining that made it 109-106.

OVER AND BACK

Iverson divorce: The same day the Philadelphia 76ers announced that guard Allen Iverson would not return for the rest of the season, his wife filed for divorce in Atlanta.

In papers filed Tuesday in Fulton County Superior Court, Tawanna Iverson said their 8 1/4-year marriage is "irretrievably broken." She asks for full custody of the couple's five children, child support and alimony.

After returning to the 76ers as a free agent in December, Iverson returned to Atlanta in February to be with his family as they dealt with an undisclosed illness of his 4-year-old daughter, Messiah.

Surgery for Mavs' Terry: Dallas guard Jason Terry is scheduled to have surgery today after taking an elbow to the face during Wednesday night's 112-109 victory over Minnesota.

The team said a timetable for Terry's return would be determined after the surgery. Terry was hurt with 4 1/4 minutes left in the third quarter when he collided with Minnesota's Corey Brewer, who was dribbling toward midcourt.

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