ESPN.com - NBA/PLAYOFFS2006 - Conference Semifinals: Nets vs. Heat

Download Toolbar | Shop

º Clubhouse
º Roster
º Stats
º Message Board

NBA Playoffs:

Tue, 5/16
NETS 105
HEAT 106

NEW JERSEY @ MIAMI
Heat scrape past Carter, Nets, advance to East finals
Final: Box Score | Play By Play

Heat Tickets | Nets Tickets | Bracket

PLAYER MATCHUPS
NETS		HEAT
D. Harris Points: 9.9 Rebounds: 2.2 Assists: 3.2	PG	M. Chalmers
C. Lee	SG	D. Wade Points: 27.2 Rebounds: 5.7 Assists: 6.7
C. Douglas-Roberts	SF	Q. Richardson Points: 8.2 Rebounds: 4.2 Assists: 1.6
E. Najera Points: 5.4 Rebounds: 5.1 Assists: 0.8	PF	M. Beasley
B. Lopez	C	J. O'Neal Points: 20.1 Rebounds: 9.3 Assists: 2.6

TEAM STATS (Regular Season)
	NETS	HEAT
PPG	93.8	99.9
RPG	41.0	43.1
APG	23.0	20.6
FG%	43.977	47.821
FT%	75.812	69.957
3P%	.330	.345

SEASON SERIES
New Jersey leads 3-1
Nov 7, 2005	@MIA 90, NJ 89	Recap \| Box Score
Dec 23, 2005	NJ 95, @MIA 88	Recap \| Box Score
Feb 4, 2006	@NJ 105, MIA 92	Recap \| Box Score
Apr 2, 2006	@NJ 90, MIA 78	Recap \| Box Score

PLAYOFF HISTORY

Championships: 2 (All in ABA)	Championships: 1
Last Championship: 1976	Last Championship: 2006
Last Season: Lost in Eastern Conference first round	Last Season: Lost in Eastern Conference finals

(Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images)

Shaq and Wade reached the East finals for the second straight year.

Are They Hot Or Not?

In a word: Yes. After losing Game 1 to the Nets at home, Miami has reeled off four straight wins, including a 106-105 nail-biter in Tuesday's Game 5 clincher. The Heat now advance to the East finals where they await the winner of the Cavs-Pistons series. Story

• Daily Dime: Antoine's evolution | Sheridan: Fitting end for Nets

ESPN Research

The Nets have had no answers for Dwyane Wade in this series. They have no solution for his quickness. Wade's ability to drive and score and drive and kick is creating all the offense that the Heat need.

Pat Riley will go to Wade over and over again against any matchup New Jersey throws at him, because he knows that Wade will find a way to score or get a teammate a great shot.

Miami's arsenal is just deeper than New Jersey's and that is another reason they will move on from this series. Miami has two of the best players in the NBA in Shaquille O'Neal and Wade. The Nets are focusing a lot of their attention on stopping those two guys.

• Full Game 5 scouting report

| Entire series scouting report

Eastern Conference Playoff poll
John Hollinger chat wrap

EXPERT PICKS
Anthony	Broussard	Hollinger	Sheridan	Stein
(In 6)	(In 7)	(In 6)	(In 7)	(In 7)

TEAM NOTES

• Heat notes: This is Miami's 11th postseason appearance (seventh under Pat Riley).

• Nets notes: This is New Jersey's fifth straight postseason appearance (all since the arrival of Jason Kidd). The Nets were swept in 2005, but have won 32 playoff games since 2002. Prior to 2002, the Nets won nine playoff games in 25 seasons as an NBA team.