Lamar filling it up with a huge triple double.

[jayC]

GAME DAY RECAP Saturday, March 06



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RECAP | BOX SCORE | PLAY-BY-PLAY | PHOTOS | GAMECAST


MIAMI (AP) -- Lamar Odom thinks he could have played better Saturday. After all, he did miss five free throws.

The Miami Heat, however, were thrilled with his performance: 30 points, 19 rebounds and 11 assists to help beat the Sacramento Kings 102-96

It was the Heat's first triple-double in nine years, the fourth in franchise history and the eighth for Odom. He achieved a season high in points and a career high in rebounds, and he matched his career high in assists.

"That's my favorite part of basketball -- getting triple-doubles and filling it up a little bit," Odom said. "If there's one stat I could have, that would be it, whether it's 10-10-10 or big ones like this. I'll remember this game for a long time."

Working mostly against Chris Webber, who returned this week from knee surgery, Odom went 11-for-18 from the field and 7-for-12 from the line. He also had two steals and a block in 45 minutes and was at his best down the stretch.

"It wasn't a complete game," Odom said. "Bad night from the free throw line."

Teammate Eddie Jones went just 1-for-8 from the field but made three free throws in the final 23 seconds and played smothering defense against Peja Stojakovic. Sacramento's top offensive threat went 4-for-13 and scored 14 points.

Mike Bibby had 24 points and Webber 22 for the Kings, who fell behind by 13 points in the second quarter.

"We didn't do a thing in the first half," coach Rick Adelman said. "We were in another place. I don't know what was going on."

The Kings, who shot 39 percent, came into the game with the NBA's best record but fell to 20-3 against the Eastern Conference. The other losses were at Boston and at New York in early November.

"It seems we beat the best teams, then lose to the lower-caliber teams," Webber said. "We have to remember that now we're not under the radar anymore. And whether they make the playoffs or not, a win over us can make their season."

Miami used only seven players to beat the Kings. Rafer Alston had 20 points, seven assists and just two turnovers in 46 minutes. Reserves Rasual Butler and Udonis Haslem added 17 points apiece.

And then there was Odom. The 6-foot-10 forward was all over the floor, often running the offense from the point.

"That was a phenomenal performance," coach Stan Van Gundy said. "There haven't been many better than that in the NBA this year. He had a very favorable matchup, and he made great plays."

Webber declined to blame his knee as a hindrance in trying to guard Odom.

"He had a great game," Webber said. "They used him like a point forward -- put the ball in his hands and let him do what he does. He's so versatile in a lot of different situations."

The Heat hung onto a small lead as Odom made several key plays late. First he grabbed a rebound and threw a long pass to Butler, who drove the rest of the way for a layup and an 88-84 lead.

Odom then achieved the triple-double when he earned his 10th assist with 2:46 left. He stumbled to the floor on a drive, and two Kings were battling him for the ball when it rolled to Haslem, who sank a layup for 90-86 lead.

Another assist by Odom set up Alston's 3-pointer that made it 94-88. Odom said he was unaware of the triple-double until the game ended.

"The most important thing is that we won," he said. "If you have a game like that losing, no one cares. No one remembers it."<

^Notes:@ The Heat's stretch of 739 games without a triple-double was the longest in the NBA. Utah now has the longest at 390. ... The last Heat player to record a triple-double was Billy Owens on Jan. 5, 1995. ... The Kings fell to 3-13 in Miami. They last won in Miami on Dec. 9, 2001. ... Webber is averaging


Odom always had talent. This is what superstars do! Take an average team and make it a good team.

[Shaq Attack2]

Wow, Webber plays D like a girl. My left nut has better lateral movement.