For all Rod Strickland has contributed the past month, the one thing the Heat missed from Tim Hardaway's arsenal was his penchant for game-winning three-pointers.

Completely out of character, Strickland did his best Hardaway impersonation Friday night.

With the 24-second clock ticking down, Strickland -- just 1 of 9 on threes entering the game -- nailed a 25-footer with 2:07 left to break the final tie and push the Heat to an 88-83 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, Miami's ninth victory in its past 11 games.

A play designed for Alonzo Mourning never developed, leaving Strickland to improvise.

``The clock was winding down to three or four seconds, so I just tried to get the shot up,'' said Strickland, who has made 12 three-pointers in 45 attempts over 14 seasons.

Alonzo Mourning's jumper made it a five-point game with 44.9 seconds to go. After Tim Duncan's free throws trimmed the Spurs' deficit to three, Eddie Jones missed a three, but the Spurs' Terry Porter missed a three from the corner with 11 seconds left. Jones rebounded and hit two free throws to seal it.

After the Heat (17-28) opened an 18-point lead in the second quarter, the Spurs ran off a 26-6 run over the second and third quarters and went up by as many as six in the fourth.

But Duncan -- who had 29 points and 12 rebounds -- missed four of six shots in the fourth quarter, and Antonio Daniels missed two free throws with 2:49 left and the score tied.

The Spurs have gone 9-12 after starting 20-4.

``Tonight shows something about where we've come,'' Strickland said. ``We've had leads, and they've evaporated and we crumbled. Now we're fighting through those situations.''

Strickland's three was his only points of the second half after a 14-point first half. ``We needed it,'' coach Pat Riley said. Strickland, who had seven assists, is 187 three-pointers behind Hardaway's total last season.

``When Rod's playing the way he's playing, we're a totally different team,'' Mourning said. ``You have so many people who don't respect [his outside shot].''

For the third time this season, Mourning labored in his first game back from illness before hitting a key basket late. Mourning, who fouled out with 42.8 seconds left, shot 4 of 13 and finished with 13 points and five rebounds. ``I was out of sync,'' he said.

Jones shot 8 of 22 but scored 17 of his 24 points in the second half, including two key threes early in the fourth.

With San Antonio's David Robinson picking up three fouls in the first 8:10 of the game, the Heat bolted to leads of 16-2 and 45-27. Miami's two turnovers in the first half were a season low.

But with Malik Rose scoring nine of his 20, the Spurs outscored the Heat 27-14 in the third to go to the fourth ahead 69-65.


The Heat activated power forward/center Sean Marks and placed power forward Malik Allen on the injured list with knee tendinitis. Marks has not played since Nov. 29, partly because of a cervical strain.

Anthony Carter, recovering from sports-hernia surgery, said he's ready to return Tuesday against Atlanta, although Riley might hold him out until the first game after the All-Star break (Feb. 13 vs. Orlando).

Despite entering Friday ranked 12th in the Eastern Conference and 6 1/2 games out of the final playoff spot, Riley said, ``I think we can [make the playoffs] if we continue to play at this level.''