Ex-PBA import fans Heat over Magic

MANILA, Philippines - Henry Walker fired two triples in the last 23 seconds to force overtime and the Miami Heat outdueled the Orlando Magic, 93-90, to firm up their hold of seventh place in the mad dash to the NBA playoffs.

Walker, who played for the Alaska Aces in last year’s PBA Governor’s Cup, took a pass from Dwyane Wade with the clock ticking down to its last second in regulation then lofted a trey on the left wing over the outstretched arm of Tobias Harris, knotting the count at 85.

The Magic failed to put up a decent shot in the last 2.1 seconds, paving the way for an extra session where the Heat outscored the Magic, 8-5, to snatch the win. Wade drilled in four of his 18 points in OT while new acquisition Goran Dragic made two late free throws and center Hassan Whiteside slammed one with 2:49 left in extension to put Miami on top for good.

Walker, who also played for the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics before moving back to the D-League, actually struggled in the game, missing all but one of his first nine shots, including seven of his three-point attempts, through the first 47 minutes.

But he hit two clutch triples at the end of regulation, the first off a baseline out-of-bounds play on which coach Erik Spoelstra called Walker’s number despite his shooting woes, pulling the Heat to within, 82-84.

After Magic guard Victor Oladipo split his charities to put Orlando up by three, the Heat had about five opportunities to force up a desperation trey. Instead they kept moving the ball and found a decent look at Walker for the extension.

Miami thus improved to 25-31 to stay at No. 7 behind sixth running Milwaukee (32-25) and ahead of No. 8 Brooklyn (23-32) with Charlotte (23-32), Detroit (23-34), Indiana (23-34) and Boston (22-33) just within striking distance.

Orlando slid to 19-40.

In Portland, Wesley Matthews scored 31 points, LaMarcus Aldridge had 11 points and 13 rebounds, and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the slumping San Antonio Spurs, 111-95, for their first victory since the All-Star break.

Six players scored in double figures for Portland, which ended a two-game skid. Damian Lillard had 18 points and Nicolas Batum added 15.

Tim Duncan shot 9 of 12 and scored 20 points to lead San Antonio, which lost its fourth consecutive game. Danny Green had 17 points for the defending NBA champions.

Portland was 13 of 26 from 3-point range, with Matthews hitting a team-high four 3s.

The Blazers led 51-50 at halftime after the first two quarters were decidedly one-sided.

Portland dominated the first quarter, hitting 13 of 22 shots to take a 32-16 lead. Robin Lopez scored four points during a 10-0 run that helped the Blazers take control.

Portland led by as many as 19 early in the second quarter when momentum completely shifted in San Antonio’s direction. The Spurs, who made 13 of 20 shots during the second quarter, put together a 16-2 run late in the period and pulled even at 48 on Aron Baynes’ layup.

Portland re-established itself early in the third quarter, when Lillard scored six points during an 11-0 run that gave the Blazers a 67-54 lead. San Antonio responded with six quick points, but Portland quickly halted the Spurs’ momentum by scoring nine of the next 11 to take a 76-62 lead.

San Antonio, trailing 81-71 after three, threatened the Blazers again when Green and Tony Parker hit 3-pointers to start the fourth quarter. Portland, a loser in five of its previous nine games when leading after three quarters, regained control when Matthews hit two 3s during a 10-0 run. (With AP report)