Mourning, Heat Burn Down Indy

The Miami Heat are giving the NBA just what it wanted more scoring.

Alonzo Mourning had 33 points and Miami again displayed newfound firepower Tuesday night, beating the Indiana Pacers 113-101.

But against Indiana, the Heat shot 52 percent, scored 40 points in the first period and led by at least nine the rest of the way.

"It's the new rules," said Tim Hardaway, who had 19 points, 14 assists and just one turnover. "We're playing uptempo basketball. I love getting up and down the court. I'm going to the hole instead of just running plays all the time."

Mourning, battling the flu, shot 16-for-24 and grabbed 16 rebounds.

"Zo's a running center," teammate P.J. Brown said. "I think you'll see a lot more games like this from him."

In contrast to his teammates, Mourning had been off to a slow start offensively, averaging just 15.7 points and struggling with foul trouble in the first three games. He isn't enthralled with the rule changes.

"The rules are new to everybody," the All-Star center said. "I'm accustomed to the old style of play, but the game has been about change, and you've got to deal with it."

Despite the league crackdown on physical play, the Heat still managed to smother Reggie Miller. He missed seven of 10 shots and scored 13 points, barely half his average.

Dn Majerle's defense so frustrated Miller that coach Larry Bird played him only 26 minutes.

"Reggie wasn't getting off his picks like he usually does," Bird said. "He didn't shoot the ball as well as we'd like, and he got a little frustrated. Whoever is playing the best will stay in there."

Miller admitted he's frustrated by the rule changes.

"It's different from night to night," he said. "It doesn't seem like the officials are on the same page. The old officials are calling it by the old rules, and the younger ones are calling it from (the new) rule book."

Jalen Rose led the Pacers with 17 points. They had 15 offensive rebounds in the first half but only one after that. Miami overcame a slow start on the boards to finish with a 52-47 edge.

"When we rebound and cut our turnovers down, we're tough to stop," Mourning said.

The Heat shot 63 percent in the first quarter, then expanded their lead to 48-28. Indiana closed briefly within nine points early in the second half before Miami rebuilt the lead to 91-71.

The game was an early-season test for two Eastern Conference contenders. Miami and Indiana tied with Orlando for the best record in the conference last season.

"It's early in the season," Indiana's Sam Perkins said. "It's still the crack of dawn in the NBA."

Notes