Thursday, November 25, 1999

Associated Press
Atlanta Hawks guard Bimbo Coles attempts to pass the
ball past Miami guard Anthony Carter, the former Hawaii
star who started his first game for the Heat in place
of the injured Tim Hardaway.

Carter gets first start
in Heat win

Associated Press

MIAMI - Anthony Carter is 1-0 as a starter for the Miami Heat.

The Heat came out desperate yesterday against the Atlanta Hawks, knowing that point guard Tim Hardaway wouldn't play because of a jammed knee.

"When Timmy's not in the lineup we will struggle," said Heat coach Pat Riley, who won his 200th game since taking over the team prior to the 1995-96 season, 93-91. "Other players will have to step up.

"Anthony Carter did some great things for us tonight and played a heck of a game," Riley said of the former Hawaii star. "AC will learn more as the year progresses, which will help us tremendously."

Hardaway will undergo an MRI today and might miss 4-5 days. In his absence, rookie guards Carter and Rodney Buford, who combined for 18 points, will have to step up. Carter added eight assists and Buford had no turnovers.

The good news for the Atlanta Hawks is they won't have to play in Miami Arena anymore.

Dan Majerle's 3-pointer with 1:15 left proved to be the game-winner in Atlanta's final appearance there.

The Hawks haven't won in Miami since April 12, 1996. The Heat move into their new building, American Airlines Arena, on Jan. 2.

Majerle's late 3-pointer gave Miami a 92-88 lead. Dikembe Mutombo, who had 20 points and 18 rebounds, hit a driving layup for a three-point play, cutting the lead to 92-91 with 1:04 left.

Alonzo Mourning, picking up the slack for Hardaway, had 25 points and 13 rebounds. However, Mourning missed two shots in the final 25 seconds, giving the Hawks a final chance to win with 5.9 seconds left.

Isaiah Rider, guarded closely by Majerle, threw a hard pass that deflected off Voshon Lenard's pinky, then off Bimbo Coles and out of bounds with 2.6 seconds remaining.

"It felt slow (energy level) the last five minutes," said Rider, who scored 11 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter. "The fact that we played so hard last night drained everyone."

Lenard was fouled and made 1 of 2 to give Miami a 93-91 lead with 1.7 seconds left.

Rider, who scored 32 against the Heat on Tuesday, heaved a 35-footer at the buzzer that slammed off the backboard and rim.

HEAT 93, HAWKS 91

ATLANTA: Rider 10-24 5-8 28, Henderson 3-9 0-1 6, Mutombo 8-12 4-6 20, Jackson 6-11 0-0 12, Coles 3-6 3-3 9, Crawford 0-2 0-0 0, Wright 1-5 0-0 2, Terry 2-5 2-2 7, Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, McLeod 3-6 1-1 7. Totals 36-80 15-21 91.

MIAMI: Mashburn 4-14 2-2 12, P.Brown 3-4 1-2 7, Mourning 11-26 3-5 25, Majerle 6-7 2-2 18, Carter 3-9 2-2 8, Weatherspoon 2-7 0-0 4, Buford 3-10 4-5 10, Causwell 2-2 2-2 6, Lenard 1-6 1-2 3. Totals 35-85 17-22 93.

Atlanta	19  27  21  24--91
Miami	19  20  28  26--93

3-Point Goals--Atlanta 4-7 (Rider 3-6, Terry 1-1), Miami 6-16 (Majerle 4-5, Mashburn 2-7, Lenard 0-2, Buford 0-2). Fouled out--None. Rebounds--Atlanta 59 (Mutombo 18), Miami 46 (Mourning 13). Assists--Atlanta 17 (Coles, Jackson 4), Miami 24 (Carter 8). Total fouls--Atlanta 21, Miami 22. A--14,554.