Bullets Put on Heat, Beat Miami

Tracy Murray scored a season-high 22 points and the Washington Bullets overcame a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit Thursday night to beat the Heat, 99-95, at Miami.

The loss knocked the Heat out of first place in the Atlantic Division, putting it half a game behind the New York Knicks.

Murray scored 16 points in the fourth quarter, making four three-point shots, and Washington won its third game in a row. It was the Bullets’ first victory over a first- or second-place team in 19 tries.

Isaac Austin and Jamal Mashburn led the Heat with 19 points. Tim Hardaway went scoreless in the first half and finished with 16 points before fouling out. He has scored 9,998 points.

Bullet starting forward Chris Webber suffers from bursitis in his right hip and did not make the trip.

Charlotte 122, Boston 121--Glen Rice scored a franchise-record 48 points and Anthony Mason had his second triple-double in a row at Charlotte.

Boston took a 121-120 lead on Marty Conlon’s drive with 51 seconds to play in overtime. But Tony Smith made the winning basket on a layup off an assist from Mason with 39.5 seconds left.

Eric Williams scored 25 points to lead six Celtics in double figures.

Mason had 19 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists for the fourth triple-double of his career. Vlade Divac had 23 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists.

Atlanta 117, Philadelphia 104--Christian Laettner, Steve Smith and Dikembe Mutombo had double digits in points and rebounds and all five Atlanta starters scored in double figures at Philadelphia.

Laettner had 23 points and 12 rebounds, Smith had 25 points and 10 assists and Mutombo added 12 points and 12 rebounds.

New Jersey 102, Vancouver 96--Sam Cassell had 26 points and 10 assists at Vancouver, and the Nets handed the Grizzlies their eighth loss in a row.

Kendall Gill scored 22 and rookie Kerry Kittles had 21 for the Nets.