Before he got sick, Alonzo Mourning wouldn't think twice about the possible energy-sapping effects of the high altitudes that await in back-to-back games in Utah and Denver.

Now, it's just another obstacle for the 6-foot-10 center of Miami's flickering playoff hopes, who recently has regained much of his All-Star form.

"Whew, it'll be a challenge," said Mourning, who is averaging 15.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.65 blocks a game in 32.5 minutes compared to his career numbers of 20 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in 35.2 minutes. "I'll just get lots of rest and drink a lot of fluids."

Those seem like much easier remedies than the eight pills a day and special diet he endures to combat focal glomerulosclerosis, a disease that can lead to a kidney transplant.

"I've been faced with challenges before, and I'm a strong believer that God doesn't put anything in front of his children they can't handle," said Mourning, 31, who dominated the first-place Nets in the Heat's 90-77 win Saturday. "He knows I can handle it. I'm strong-willed enough, mentally and physically. It took about a year to make adjustments and get adapted to it and educate my body and mind to play this game. But I'm here. Now it's a matter of maintaining it."

When Mourning contracted a flu bug in early November, it knocked his weakened immune system for a loop, and although he missed only two games, his numbers plummeted while his resolve rocketed.

"When I got sick and my body was depleted at one point, I could've easily said, `Man, why am I killing myself?' and just let it all go," said Mourning, who missed the first 69 games last year. "I still have that little fire burning inside of me that just hasn't gone out yet.

"That's why I made that extra incentive to get myself, my mind and my body back to play this game, not just for myself, but for the city of Miami and for this organization."

While he was regaining his stamina and basketball legs, Boston's Paul Pierce ended one of the Heat's 12 straight losses with a buzzer-beating layup as Mourning was slow to switch. And young, brash opponents such as the Nets' Kenyon Martin and the Warriors' Danny Fortson were disrespecting him with flying dunks and elbows that in year's past would've been repelled and rebuked.

Not anymore. Ask New Jersey's Aaron Williams how the Spalding sandwich tasted Saturday or 7-0 center Todd MacCulloch who that streaking No. 33 was going past him for a slam dunk during an 8-of-10, 23-point performance.

"Every time we face him he's getting stronger and more aggressive," said MacCulloch, who was held to two points.

Mourning's teammates are reaping the rewards of his revitalization; the Heat has won 10 of 14.

"His stamina is looking great. He looks like the All-Star center that he is," Heat guard Kendall Gill said. "He was getting there late. Now, it's like, `Go ahead if you want to go in there and face Zo, go ahead.'"

Still, Mourning won't be satisfied until he's all the way back and can help transform this nightmarish start into a dreamy ending.

"I know where I used to be, and I won't be satisfied until I'm back at that level again," said Mourning, who's shooting 53 percent, tied for third best in the NBA. "My body's limited me from doing that. I'm not well physically. I'm not there yet but I'm at a point of remission where I think I can be effective at this game and be part of something special.

"I don't want to be sitting at home thinking I wish I could've did it."

REAL OR MEMOREX?

Heat forward LaPhonso Ellis, who played in Denver for the first six years of his career, will take a light jog on the treadmill to help his lungs adjust to the altitude difference.

"It's not in your mind," Ellis said. "Hakeem [Olajuwon] hated coming there because he used to have an oxygen tank behind the bench."

Gill doesn't believe that the Jazz or Nuggets have an advantage.

"It never affected me except at the beginning of the game, but once your body gets acclimated to it, it goes away," Gill said.