It's not clear whether they really wanted to or not, but the Heat beat the Nets in double overtime on Wednesday, clinching the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference and setting up a first-round playoff matchup with the Celtics. For the Nets loss meant they finish with the fourth worst record in league history.
With Dwyane Wade, Udonis Haslem and Jermaine O'Neal sitting out for the Heat, it was an ugly game. Miami took control midway through the third and led by as many as 13 heading into the fourth. The Nets came back and tied the game in the final minute before Carlos Arroyo put the Heat back up two with a baseline jumper with 16.3 seconds left. Courtney Lee tied it again with a pair of free throws and after a Miami turnover and a Yi Jianlian miss, the game went to overtime.
Yi tied it again with 20 seconds left in overtime and Mario Chalmers' attempt to win the game on the other end was short, extending the game another five minutes. Miami finally came away with an eight-point win as the Nets went scoreless for the first 4:09 of the second OT. The Nets shot 36 percent from the field and turned the ball over 20 times. Yi led them with 23 points, 15 boards and two blocks while Lee finished with 17 and six. However, Devin Harris, Brook Lopez and Terrence Williams finished with a combined 7-for-28.
- Boxscore - NBA.com
- Game Highlights (Video) - NBA.com
- Heat rally past Nets in double OT, 94-86 - Tim Reynolds - AP
- Post-Game Plus (Video) - Nancy Newman - YES Network
- From the Booth (Video) - Ian Eagle & Mike Fratello - YES Network
- Kiki Vandeweghe Press Conference (Video) - YES Network
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Devin Harris Interview (Video) - YES Network
- Dismal Season Ends With 70th Loss - Al Iannazzone - The Nets Insider
- Nets close year with loss No. 70 - Al Iannazzone - The Record
- One-way ticket from N.J. - Al Iannazzone - The Record
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Props for LeBron, Tyreke - Al Iannazzone - The Record
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NJ Nets: The Summer Plans - Dave D'Alessandro - Star-Ledger
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Nets stretch forgettable season through two OTs, but can't take Heat - Julian Garcia - New York Daily News
- Nets look ahead to next season - Fred Kerber - New York Post
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70-loss nightmare finally over for the Nets - Tom Canavan - AP
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Heat rallies past Nets in double OT, 94-86 - Ira Winderman - South Florida Sun-Sentinel
- Miami Heat : Heat 94, Nets 86 - Ira Winderman - South Florida Sun-Sentinel
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Boston Celtics next on deck for Miami Heat - Michael Wallace - Miami Herald
- Postgame Breakdown: Heat 94, Nets 86 - Michael Wallace - On the Beat
- Heat dig up win in double overtime against Nets - Chris Perkins - NBA.com
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Heat survives double OT against New Jersey, will play Boston - David Dwork - Peninsula is Mightier
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Quick Recap: Heat 94, Nets 86 (2 OT) - Mark Ginocchio - Nets Are Scorching