From: sikorski@news.miami.edu (Richard Sikorski)
Subject: Re: mia Heat @ orl Magic - 06Nov comments
Organization: R.S.M.A.S.
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 92 20:08:45 GMT


Heat loses opener to Orlando, 100-110
Heat's starting point guard Brian Shaw injured (left ankle sprain)
Heat's Grant Long remains a holdout

[Mostly from the Miami Herald: Shaun Powell, S.L.Price, and Bob Rubin]


Miami opened the game by taking the tipoff, and future All-Star Glen
Rice put it in for 3 of his Q1 13 pts.  Willie Burton scored 11, with
the Heat taking a 34-30 lead at the quarter.  The Heat doubled-up on
future superstar Shaquille O'Neal, forcing 8 turnovers in the game and
an eventual foul-out by the 20 year-old, 7-1, 303-pound  rookie center.
But Shaq was not without his shining moments: With 19 second left in Q1,
he took the rebound, moved across midcourt, lost and recovered a steal
by Burton, took off at the foul line, and slammed 2 points home.  Five
minutes later he took another one full-court, finishing with a no-look
pass to Anthony Bowie who put in the score.

(mia) Bimbo Coles had 9 pts in Q2, while Edwards got 16 pts in 7 for 8 shooting,
pushing to a 12 point lead  during the quarter, and a 65-56 halftime
lead.  Rice slowed to 6 pts, and Burton slowed too (only 12 points in
the rest of the game).

But the Heat stalled in Q3.  Rice only put in 6 pts, and Shaw
sprained his left ankle at 7:43 of the quarter, but the real turn-
around was on defense.  (orl) Nick Anderson went through (mia) Rice,
John Salley, and Keith Askins, racking up the 5th best total against
the Heat in a regular-season game (42 points), Anderson's career-high.
He made 3 of 6 three-pointers.  "That's the best I've seen him," said
(mia) Rice, who played him in the Big-10. "I bet he does that to a lot
of people this year."  (orl) Dennis Scott was also hitting open shots
(27 pts), and Shaquille O'Neal was a constant threat on the boards (18
rbs).

(mia) Rice and Burton never regained their early game rhythm. Salley
missed 6 ot 7 in the 2nd half, and had 5 turnovers in the game.  Rice
was 1 for 7 in the second half.  Overall the Heat shot 58.1 pct (86.7
from the line) in the 1st half, but only 26.6 (57.5) in the second.
They went 8:39 without a basket in Q3.  65 pts in the 1st half, 35 in
the 2nd.

Orlando won their 5th in a row, continuing their preseason streak.  Miami
lost their season opener after two opening wins in a row.  (mia) Rony
Seikaly is the only Heat player who has started in every opening game.

(mia) Shaw wont play tonight (07nov) due to his sprain.  Out for a week?
Trainer Ron Culp wasnt talking.

Shaw was starting at the point while Steve Smith recovers from knee
surgery.  Now Bimbo Coles will start.  Luckily, shooting guard Kevin
Edwards is also comfortable at the point if he's needed, since he put
in some preseason minutes at that position.

(mia) Grant Long met with the Heat for 3 hours Friday afternoon (06nov),
without reaching agreement on the 7th year of his contract.  He ended
his 161-game playing streak by missing the opener.  He could sign and
play today.  "We're not worried about a trade anymore," said Long's
agent Bob Woolf, "but the contract has to be something he feels
comfortable with."  The Heat offered some incentives for Long to meet
that would guarantee part or all of the seventh year, which Long wanted
to be fully guaranteed at signing.

Refs: Evans, Armstrong, and Nunn
Attendance: 15,151
Time: 2:20

-- 
 Richard Sikorski - Marine & Atmospheric Chemistry, U. Miami, FL
 Internet: sikorski@umigw.miami.edu        
         r.sikorski@rsmas.miami.edu