The Miami Heat may be getting Alonzo Mourning back for their game against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday.

But it doesn't mean the team will stop riding on the back of Eddie Jones, who is coming off his best career scoring game against the Nuggets on Tuesday.

While Mourning's flu, which kept him out of Miami's past two games, is not nearly as serious as the virus he had early in the season, it is uncertain how Mourning will react to missing two days of activity.

Point guard Rod Strickland also has not felt well lately and was checked by a doctor after Tuesday's game against Denver.

That could leave Jones largely responsible for Miami's scoring Friday, but he has no problem handling that type of responsibility.

Jones, Miami's leading scorer who bested his previous career-high by two points when he scored 37 against Denver, believes that as long as he is on the floor and out of foul trouble the Heat have a chance to win any game.

The contrast was obvious in Miami's two-game road trip. Against Utah, Jones picked up two early fouls and played only eight first-half minutes. As a result, Utah took a large lead early and held on.

Against Denver, Jones played 48 of a possible 53 minutes as Miami won its second game this year without Mourning in the lineup.

"When I leave the game, we have some problems," Jones said. "If I can keep myself on the floor, I think we give ourselves a better chance at winning games."

As long as teams don't double-team Jones, look for coach Pat Riley to run more isolation plays after Jones' success in the final minutes against Denver.

A lot of Jones' shots come from catch-and-shoot situations with Jones coming off several screens. But Riley has noticed an improvement in Jones' one-on-one play.

"He's stronger now and he's getting by people," Riley said. "I think earlier in the year they weren't letting him play; they would double him. I think Eddie, once he's alone, can get there."

? Brian on boards: A pair of impressive statistics went unnoticed Tuesday with Jones stealing the spotlight.

Brian Grant had a Heat season-high 14 rebounds. Miami has been regularly outrebounding opponents lately, highlighted by its 37-22 advantage on the boards against Utah on Monday. Utah's 22 rebounds were the fewest the Heat has allowed in team history. Though Miami was outrebounded by one against the Nuggets, the Heat outrebounded its previous four opponents by an average of 12.5 a game.

"I thought that was going to be a major strength for us this year, and it wasn't to start the season," Riley said.

Miami also is improving its free-throw shooting, as evidenced by its perfect 17-of-17 showing from the line Tuesday.

Too passive. A secondary scorer. Tends to float on the perimeter.

Eddie Jones has heard them all during his season and a half with the Heat.

And then he was challenged Tuesday night by coach Pat Riley.

The result not only was Jones' most dynamic performance in a Heat uniform, but also the type of effort, that, in a single night, may have put to rest so many of the perceptions that had stigmatized the veteran shooting guard.

"Coach at halftime had a thing about, `Let's do something else,'" Jones said. "I said, `Hey, give me the basketball.'''

For as much as Jones accomplished with his 24 first-half points, it was what he did after the intermission -- more specifically in the fourth quarter and overtime of the 100-96 victory in Denver -- that demolished many of the doubts.

"Obviously, the key is your great player has to do it, and Eddie did it,'' Riley said.

It certainly had been a while coming. The career-high, 37-point effort was the first 30-point outing for Jones since Dec. 29, 2000, and only his fourth with the Heat. The Heat is 4-0 when Jones scores 30.

"He's feeling much more comfortable in his role and what he needs to do, and also what we need to do for him,'' Riley said.

The game began as a typical Jones 20-something effort, plenty of early jumpers and then a second-half lull. But this time Jones not only awoke from a scoreless third-quarter slumber, he put together an emphatic fourth quarter and overtime.

By the time it was over, the only debate in the locker room was which was sweeter -- Jones' reverse layup that sent the game into overtime or his resounding, baseline, one-on-three dunk that put the Heat ahead for good in overtime.

Each of Jones' points were necessary, with power forward Brian Grant focusing on the boards and coming up with a season-high 14 rebounds, with center Alonzo Mourning sidelined for a second consecutive game with the flu, and with point guard Rod Strickland forced to the bench at the end with flu symptoms.

As a spectator, Strickland said he was mesmerized by Jones' tour de force.

"Man, that performance was one you love to enjoy,'' he said. "I would have loved to be out there, but I had a lot of fun sitting there, watching it."

It was not totally enjoyable for Jones. For days he has been bothered by congestion, his breathing difficulties exacerbated by the altitude in Denver. At one point in the third quarter, he nearly doubled over.

Not tough? On this night he was more than tough enough.

"I always believed guys have a certain way to play,'' Strickland said. "But don't say he's passive."

Left to freelance, Jones often works his way into the corners for twisting, step-back jumpers. But against the Nuggets, practically everything at the end involved a beeline to the basket.

"He's strong, and he is getting by people,'' Riley said. "I was surprised that they let him go. I think Eddie, once he is alone, can get there.''

Even as he was heating up in the fourth quarter against the Nuggets, Jones said, "I felt like I wasn't getting the ball where I wanted it."

But then Jones did something that he previously shied from. He demanded the ball. He grew vigorous with his play. He took over, eclipsing the 35 points he scored Nov. 4, 1997, against the Kings while a member of the Lakers.

"I think he knows and we all know that he's the guy that's going to get it done for us,'' Riley said. "And I think in the past, it hasn't been that way."

Locker room is (flu) bugged

Riley said the flu has swept through the locker room, with Strickland the most affected among those who played Tuesday. ... Jones took particular satisfaction in his one-on-one success against former Lakers teammate and Los Angeles neighbor Nick Van Exel. Said the Nuggets point guard, "He was a good neighbor, just like Mr. Rogers.'' ...

Riley said the two-game split in Utah and Denver was not enough. "We can't afford it,'' he said. "Every step back is double for us in trying to get back into it." The Denver game was the last west of the Central Time zone for the Heat. ... Raef LaFrentz came up short despite going for 30 points and six blocked shots, which tied the Clippers' Michael Olowokandi for the most blocks against the Heat this season. "If you look at that roster, that team should be in the playoffs," the Nuggets center said. ...

Grant's 14 rebounds tied for the most by a Heat player this season. Mourning had 14 Jan. 8 against the Nets. ... In going 17 of 17 from the foul line against Denver, the Heat had its fifth perfect game from the line in its 14 seasons. The franchise record is 30 of 30 in 1993 against Boston. The 17 conversions were the second-highest total without a miss for the Heat. ... With five overtime victories, the Heat is one from the franchise record, set last season.

Eddie Jones' career-high 37 points in Tuesday's 100-94 overtime win at Denver were the most by a Heat player since Alonzo Mourning had 43 on Feb. 23, 2000 against New Jersey.

Heat coach Pat Riley was surprised Denver didn't double-team Jones on isolations late in the game.

``He got by all three times,'' Riley said. ``He had a great month. He knows and everybody knows he's the guy that's going to get it done for us. It wasn't that way last year.''

Jones also had four blocks and four steals:

``I got my legs under me in the fourth quarter and felt it was time to make plays. I told my teammates, `Give me the ball.' '' I was going to make something happen going to the basket.''

After Jones went scoreless in the third quarter, he scored 13 in the combined fourth quarter and overtime.

``We kind of thought he was done,'' Nuggets guard Nick Van Exel said. ``We don't have anything, let alone a killer instinct.''

 Mourning, who missed the past two games with the flu, expects to play Friday against San Antonio. Although ESPN's Tim Legler and TNT's Peter Vecsey criticized Mourning's selection to the All-Star team, Mourning said, ``I don't think I got any sympathy votes. I got votes because of the work I put in. . . . I can't think of any other center in the East that's having the same kind of impact I'm having on my team.''

 Brian Grant banged his knee and turned his ankle against Denver but played through it. . . . Rod Strickland sat late in the Denver game because he was feeling ill. . . . The Heat went 17 for 17 on free throws against the Nuggets, only the fifth time ever Miami hasn't missed a free throw. Of those five games, the Heat's 17 attempts were its second-most, behind only a 30-for-30 game against Boston in 1993.

All-Star center Alonzo Mourning was on the bench, still feeling lethargic from a bout with the flu.
He and the Miami Heat had trudged into their hotel rooms a few hours before sunrise.

The Denver Nuggets were fresh off of a four-day break.

What seemed to be the perfect setup for victory turned into another pratfall for a Nuggets team that can't seem to embrace prosperity.

DENVER ? The Denver Nuggets came into Tuesday's game well-rested, having not played since Thursday. Their opponent, the Miami Heat, was less than 24 hours removed from a game in Utah.

All of which could mean only one thing:

Another Denver loss.

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? Box score

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The Nuggets fell to 0-10 on the season when having at least two days between games as the Heat's Eddie Jones burned Denver for a career-high 37 points in a 100-94 overtime victory for Miami at the Pepsi Center.

Wednesday, January 30, 2002 - In the middle of a Colorado winter, the Denver Nuggets still weren't able to cool off the Heat.

Denver lost its 12th consecutive game to the Miami Heat, 100-94 in overtime Tuesday night at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets (13-30) haven't beaten the Heat (16-28) since Dec. 15, 1995. No other NBA team has as long a streak against the Nuggets.

PEDRO F. FONTEBOA of the Miami Herald reports: Alonzo Mourning on Tuesday was named an All-Star for the seventh time in his 10-year career, but the Heat center would have preferred it to come under better circumstances -- such as a better Heat record and better health.

Mourning was one of seven reserves chosen Tuesday by the Eastern Conference coaches, except for Heat coach Pat Riley. Coaches cannot vote for their players. The Heat (16-28) is in last place in the Atlantic Division, and Mourning was considered a long shot to be chosen.

``It is a testament to Zo that despite a slow start, the conference's coaches recognize that when he is healthy, he is the best center. He deserves to be there. Look at his numbers, they are as good as [Philadelphia's Dikembe] Mutombo's and [Indiana's Jermaine] O'Neal.

``He would be enjoying this a lot more if not for the flu that has him physically down.''

Tuesday night, still weakened by the flu, Mourning wore a suit for the game against the Nuggets. He walked deliberately, slowed by the flu he caught in Miami over the weekend before the Heat departed for Utah and its Monday game with the Jazz.

``To tell the truth, this [making the All-Star team] was one of the things that was furthest from my mind right now,'' said Mourning, averaging 15.5 points on 53 percent shooting from the field, 8.5 rebounds and 2.65 blocks. ``This season I've been trying to use my talent to up the level of play of the team. All the accolades that come would come if they may. I have to thank my teammates and coaches for helping me to be the player I have been.

``But, I would trade all of this in to have a successful season.''

Though chosen seven times as an All-Star, twice with Charlotte and five times with Miami, Mourning has missed three of those games. In 1994 and 1997 he was injured, and last season he was still recovering from kidney disease. In the 2000 game, the last time he played, he scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds.

There was some speculation that Mourning's poor health at the start of the season that caused him to miss several games and slowed his effectiveness until late December would keep him off the All-Star squad.

Mourning received the news Tuesday morning when he telephoned home and spoke with his domestic assistant Sherri.

``I called home to talk to my wife, and Sherri said congratulations,'' Mourning said. ``I asked her about what? She then told me I had made the All-Star team. She then said, `Was I not supposed to tell you?'

``I told her not to worry, that I'm sure I would have eventually found out about it.''

NOTEBOOK

The 22 rebounds by Utah late Monday was the fewest all-time by a Heat opponent. The previous low was 25, five times. The most recent was against the Timberwolves at Minnesota on Jan. 11, 2000.

Utah's 55 field-goal attempts also are the fewest ever attempted against the Heat. The previous mark was 58, by Chicago on March 30, 2000, and by Utah on Dec. 16, 1995.

No Alonzo Mourning. No problem. There's always Eddie Jones.

Jones scored 24 first-half points -- the most this season by a Heat player in a half -- and finished with a career-high 37 points to lead the Heat to a 100-94 overtime victory Tuesday over Denver in front of 15,492 fans at the Pepsi Center.

Jones converted a three-point play on a drive to the basket and a free throw, and center Brian Grant sank two free throws in the closing minute of overtime to lead the Heat.

Jones' 24 is the most in a half since Mourning, who sat out with the flu, scored the same in the first half against New Jersey on Feb. 23, 2000. His 37 are the most this season for a Miami player -- and he did not score in the third quarter.

The first half was a welcomed change for Jones one night after a weak 3-of-16 shooting performance for 12 points in a loss at Utah.

Jones, whom coach Pat Riley said earlier in the day was worthy of consideration as an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve, said he was not trying to make a statement about not being selected.

``I have no problems with the All-Star choices,'' Jones said. ``You can't have too many guys having All-Star years when your record is 16-28.''

Jones did not score in the second half until 4:59 remained, but his basket gave the Heat a brief 80-79 lead. His drive to the basket regained the lead 82-81 for Miami with less than four minutes to play.

Miami took possession on an Eddie House rebound and called timeout trailing 86-84 with 47.9 seconds left.

With Mourning standing and cheering, Jones drove the baseline and scored on a reverse layup on which he was fouled to tie the score 86-86 with 39.8 left. His free throw gave the Heat the an 87-86 lead.

Denver's Nick Van Exel sank an off-balance 3-pointer to give the Nuggets an 89-87 lead with 19.6 seconds left.

Jones split the middle and scored on a spin move to the basket to tie 89-89 with seconds remaining. Denver missed its final shot.

The Heat outscored the Nuggets 11-5 in overtime.

It was Miami's first game against the Nuggets this season. The victory is the 12th straight by the Heat against Denver, the current longest streak against an opponent.

Jones did not score in the third quarter but came back with 10 points, most in crucial drives in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter and in overtime.

After missing four of the past six games with tendinitis in his left knee, the Jazz placed backup point guard John Crotty on the injured list before Monday"s game.

NBA veteran Rusty LaRue, who was with the Jazz in the summer league and the preseason, will be signed to a 10-day contract today if he passes his physical exam.

LaRue has been playing this season for Asheville of the NBA"s development league, the NBDL.

""He knows our system really well, which is paramount for a point guard," said Kevin O"Connor, Utah"s vice president of basketball operations.

Second-year shooting guard DeShawn Stevenson has filled in at point guard but with Crotty facing an extended layoff, the Jazz wanted to bring in another pure point guard to back up John Stockton.

""It"s not fair to ask DeShawn Stevenson to start at the "2" (shooting guard), go over to point guard, then go back," O"Connor said. ""We don"t want to overload him, but he"s done a very solid job."

Sometimes a team can turn things around with a little luck, or a gamble that pays off.
     
Monday night at the Delta Center, the Jazz got both in a 101-89 victory over the Miami Heat.
     
The luck was a sudden flu bug that kept Heat center Alonzo Mourning ? who has played strong ball the past few weeks ? out of the game.
     
The gamble was a post-tipoff decision by coach Jerry Sloan to let the kids attempt to get the job done, tightening his rotation to just eight players in the process.
     
The result was a victory ? ending a three-game losing streak ? over a Heat team that had won seven of its last eight.
     
It was an interesting game for a multitude of reasons, not the least of which was the fact it was Utah's only wire-to-wire victory of the season.
     
You read right: The only time this season they've scored the first points of the contest and never trailed ? something they did at least a couple of times a month fairly recently.