The last thing a last-place team can afford is turnovers. Yet that is what doomed the Heat on Friday night against New Jersey and has on so many other occasions this season.

With Miami's 22 turnovers to the Nets' nine, whatever chances the Heat might have had were erased by what coach Pat Riley and players admit were elementary mistakes.

``Half a dozen of them were of the nature that was just absolutely academic,'' Riley said.

The problems are nothing new. Entering Saturday night's game at Houston, Miami had committed more turnovers than its opponent in four of its past five games. The issue came to the forefront because the magnitude and frequency increased.

``A lot of our turnovers are more mental than anything,'' forward Jim Jackson said. ``And when you're trying to make a run or get back in a game, you can't allow yourself to mentally get out of it.''

The turnover problem has Riley on edge for reasons other than wins and losses. After an errant Anthony Carter pass collided with the head of a Heat dancer, Riley said he fears he could meet a similar fate.