En route to its second straight blowout, the Heat suddenly lost its rhythm and touch Sunday night, marring what seemed destined to be Miami's first 100-point game this season.

But the Heat, which has learned how to finish close games, did just enough to beat Golden State 92-84 despite being held to 35 second-half points.

The Heat's third consecutive win, which followed a 23-point pasting of Boston, was far more stressful than it needed to be against a team that has dropped five straight. After bursting ahead 74-58 with 3:05 left in the third, the Heat was outscored, 20-6, over the next 10:10.

``We got very sloppy,'' coach Pat Riley said. ``They went to a zone. . . . We were missing shots. We have no cushion to be human.''

After the Warriors closed to within 80-78, Alonzo Mourning's hook shot and free throw put the Heat ahead five with 4:53 left. Rod Strickland then added two key baskets -- a jumper and driving layup.

Although Strickland and Mourning each missed a pair of free throws in the final 2:05, the Warriors could never pull closer than two.

Larry Hughes' three-pointer rimmed out with 1:11 left and the Warriors trailed 87-84. Then, with the Warriors still down three, Antawn Jamison missed a shot, and Jason Richardson missed a three-pointer with 28.8 seconds left.

LaPhonso Ellis made one of two free throws, pushing the Heat's lead at 88-84 with 26.9 seconds to go. Warriors rookie Troy Murphy missed a jumper with 18 seconds left, Eddie Jones hit two free throws, and the Heat escaped.

Overcoming 31 points from Jamison, the Heat won for just the fourth time in 16 home games. But even after taking a 57-43 lead at halftime, the Heat failed to score 100 points for the 31st consecutive game, two more than the previous NBA record.

``We didn't execute against the zone,'' Jones said. ``We have to get better at that.''

Mourning had his sixth straight strong game, with 21 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. Showing an energy and force missing for part of this season, Mourning continued his best extended stretch since returning from kidney disease last March.

``He's really playing great,'' Riley said. ``He has gone to a different level mentally. I'm very proud of what he's doing.''

Mourning said the key is he's ``not getting tired as quickly.''