Spurred on by beleaguered coach Pat Riley, who angrily challenged his players to find their lost passion for the game or look for a new employer, the 3-15 Heat came home from its cross-country trek Monday with new direction and an inner resolve that had been lacking.

OK, so another fourth-quarter dud against the 16-5 Sacramento Kings (5 of 15 with six turnovers) Sunday ended the 1-2 swing on a downer. But the players seem to have taken Riley's threats to heart and they did end a 12-game losing streak, thanks to newcomer Jim Jackson's regulation buzzer-beating jumper that led to an overtime victory Friday at Seattle.

The Heat displayed hustle and a fiery spirit in all three games. Even LaPhonso Ellis, a gentle soul, uncharacteristically shoved All-Star Chris Webber in the back when he misinterpreted the Kings forward's flailing arms as an intentional jab. Ellis earned a technical foul, and when teammate Brian Grant argued on his behalf, he too was T'd up.

The Heat, however, couldn't overcome a free-throw disparity of 30-13 and the lift provided by Webber's first appearance of the season after sitting out with a sprained ankle. While losing with passion doesn't help in the standings, the signs are there for a turnaround, but it must start with the five-day, four-game stretch that begins against Milwaukee tonight at AmericanAirlines Arena.

"We can't panic, that's what we did during the losing streak," guard Eddie Jones said. "It's a long season."

Perhaps Riley's strongest message came after another fourth-quarter collapse (3 of 19 shooting) led to an 87-83 loss to the Clippers Dec. 4 and extended the losing streak to 12.