It took two games and two quarters for the Heat to seemingly get full of itself.

The desperation of its season apparently lost on the Heat after consecutive wins and an inspired first half, Pat Riley's team got its ego in check just in time to escape with a 92-84 victory Sunday night over the Golden State Warriors.

Up 16 late in the third quarter and in the midst of its first winning streak of the season, the Heat saw its lead dwindle to two before point guard Rod Strickland and center Alonzo Mourning helped close it out.

"I told them before the game that we don't have a chance, like other teams, because we have no cushion whatsoever, to be human here," Riley said of what almost slipped away during a 35-point second half. "We're digging up from the bottom of the hill. We can't take a step back.

"We can't ever feel good about ourselves."

With Strickland seizing control of the offense down the stretch and Mourning overpowering Golden State inside, the Heat extended its winning streak to three and snapped a four-game home losing streak at AmericanAirlines Arena.

"Good things," Riley said, "are beginning to happen."

Like the Heat's 8-23 season, this was Grade A imperfect.

The Heat missed five foul shots in the final 2:05, endured a turnover by Strickland in a three-point game with 41.3 seconds to play, and survived a rimmed-out 3-pointer by Warriors point guard Larry Hughes when it was a 3-point game and another wayward 3-pointer by Golden State guard Jason Richardson when it later also was a 3-point game.

"We got a little complacent down the stretch," Mourning said, "but we made the right plays to finish."

Mourning, who missed two of those late foul shots, was brutishly brilliant in the middle, closing with 21 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots against a defense that swarmed him on almost every touch. It was yet another stride back to his former self.

"People," Riley said, "have got to judge him on being a player right now, not a player who has kidney disease -- because he's playing above and beyond that right now."

Still, the Heat only maintained any semblance of control when Strickland was guiding the attack. Moving more and more into a Tim Hardaway-style position of leadership, Strickland, who also missed two of those late free throws, finished with a season-high 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

The Heat appeared on cruise control when reserve center Vladimir Stepania dunked to produce a 74-58 lead with 3:05 to play in the third period. But a 9-0 run to close the quarter allowed Golden State to move within 74-67.

On a night his bobblehead likeness was distributed, Heat power forward Brian Grant could only shake his head at the officiating, saddled with his fifth foul with 10:04 to play.

While Grant managed only two points and four rebounds in 22 minutes, guard Eddie Jones helped compensate for the shortfall with 22 points, eight assists and five rebounds.

"I think Eddie, right now, is playing the best ball we've ever seen him play since he's been here," Riley said.

Forward Antawn Jamison kept the Warriors close, with 31 points.

His basket with 5:06 to play brought Golden State within 80-78. A three-point play by Mourning seconds later gave the Heat breathing room as it gasped its way to victory.