PEDRO F. FONTEBOA of the Miami Herald reports: Alonzo Mourning on Tuesday was named an All-Star for the seventh time in his 10-year career, but the Heat center would have preferred it to come under better circumstances -- such as a better Heat record and better health.

Mourning was one of seven reserves chosen Tuesday by the Eastern Conference coaches, except for Heat coach Pat Riley. Coaches cannot vote for their players. The Heat (16-28) is in last place in the Atlantic Division, and Mourning was considered a long shot to be chosen.

``It is a testament to Zo that despite a slow start, the conference's coaches recognize that when he is healthy, he is the best center. He deserves to be there. Look at his numbers, they are as good as [Philadelphia's Dikembe] Mutombo's and [Indiana's Jermaine] O'Neal.

``He would be enjoying this a lot more if not for the flu that has him physically down.''

Tuesday night, still weakened by the flu, Mourning wore a suit for the game against the Nuggets. He walked deliberately, slowed by the flu he caught in Miami over the weekend before the Heat departed for Utah and its Monday game with the Jazz.

``To tell the truth, this [making the All-Star team] was one of the things that was furthest from my mind right now,'' said Mourning, averaging 15.5 points on 53 percent shooting from the field, 8.5 rebounds and 2.65 blocks. ``This season I've been trying to use my talent to up the level of play of the team. All the accolades that come would come if they may. I have to thank my teammates and coaches for helping me to be the player I have been.

``But, I would trade all of this in to have a successful season.''

Though chosen seven times as an All-Star, twice with Charlotte and five times with Miami, Mourning has missed three of those games. In 1994 and 1997 he was injured, and last season he was still recovering from kidney disease. In the 2000 game, the last time he played, he scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds.

There was some speculation that Mourning's poor health at the start of the season that caused him to miss several games and slowed his effectiveness until late December would keep him off the All-Star squad.

Mourning received the news Tuesday morning when he telephoned home and spoke with his domestic assistant Sherri.

``I called home to talk to my wife, and Sherri said congratulations,'' Mourning said. ``I asked her about what? She then told me I had made the All-Star team. She then said, `Was I not supposed to tell you?'

``I told her not to worry, that I'm sure I would have eventually found out about it.''

NOTEBOOK

The 22 rebounds by Utah late Monday was the fewest all-time by a Heat opponent. The previous low was 25, five times. The most recent was against the Timberwolves at Minnesota on Jan. 11, 2000.

Utah's 55 field-goal attempts also are the fewest ever attempted against the Heat. The previous mark was 58, by Chicago on March 30, 2000, and by Utah on Dec. 16, 1995.