Jim Jackson, the latest thirty-something free agent to be signed by the Heat, said he stayed in shape by taking spinning classes three times a week.

Fitting, for a player who has been spinning his wheels in a career that has gone everywhere and nowhere since averaging 25.7 points in his third year with Dallas in 1995.

Jackson, who has played on seven teams in the past six years, is hoping for a similar career resurrection that two of the Three J's -- his former Dallas teammates Jamal Mashburn and Jason Kidd -- have undergone since joining the Hornets and Nets, respectively.

Jackson, who hadn't played since March in Cleveland, displayed his complete repertoire in an impressive debut Tuesday, albeit in an 87-83 loss to the resurgent Los Angeles Clippers, the Heat's 12th consecutive defeat.

With leading scorer Eddie Jones out with a bruised right knee, coach Pat Riley inserted Jackson for Anthony Carter just 2:38 into the first quarter and played him a team-high 41 minutes. Jackson kept the Heat in the game with nine of his 14 points (an assortment of 3-pointers, post-ups and drives) coming in the 46-46 first half.

Unfortunately, Jackson fit in too well with the Heat's penchant for collapsing in the fourth quarter, as he missed four shots down the stretch, including a potential tying runner in the lane that rimmed out with five seconds left. The Heat made 3 of 19 in the fourth quarter and converted 21 of 33 free throws, another deficiency that has helped push the 2-14 team into the NBA basement.