Pat Riley told his team to be aware of a letdown heading into the All-Star break. But the Heat, winners of 10 of their previous 12 games, could not maintain a good thing.

The Heat came out sluggish, acting like they were supposed to beat the Hawks. They ended up looking like the last-place team they are, losing 76-73 and wiping out all momentum heading into the All-Star break.

Adding to the misery was the New York Knicks' loss Tuesday, which could have given the Heat a chance to climb out of last place for the first time since November. Now they'll stay there, and have seven days before their next game to think about it.

"Our objective was to win this game, feel good and do what we have to do to for the rest of the season," guard Eddie Jones said. "As players, we have to know what's at hand. I think we just came out lethargic, letting them do what they have to do.

"It could've been a little feeling like they were the lesser team."

Miami, who lost to the Hawks for the third time this season, never could find an answer for Atlanta's post defense. The Hawks double-teamed Alonzo Mourning at every opportunity, putting the scoring pressure on the perimeter players.

Rod Strickland did his part, making 8-of-13 field goals for 16 points and adding six assists. But Jones, Kendall Gill and Jim Jackson left plenty to be desired.

Jones was 7-of-15 from the field, but only 1-of-6 from three-point range. His three-point field goal was the only one Miami hit the entire game, finishing 1-of-13 from beyond the arc.

Gill was 2-of-7 from the field and Jackson was just 1-of-8 in his 27 minutes off the bench. Brian Grant also contributed to the poor shooting with a 4-of-11 night from the floor.

The Heat's biggest lead came with 5:31 left in the first quarter, when a Gill layup put them up 14-8. But with 8:31 in the second quarter, the Hawks took a two-point lead and only let Miami back in front for 24 seconds in the third quarter.

"They got right into us and flattened us out in the first quarter," Riley said. "Our mind and body have been at a high level for the last five weeks. Our guys wanted to play, our guys wanted to win, our guys came ready and prepared, but Atlanta came more ready."

Still, the Heat could have stole the game in the final seconds. Strickland kept Miami in the game by tipping in his own miss to cut the deficit to one point with 17.4 seconds to play.

On the ensuing inbound pass, Miami fouled Jason Terry, who hit both foul shots. Jim Jackson tipped in a missed Eddie House three-pointer to bring Miami back within one with 4.6 seconds, but Miami had no timeouts remaining.

On Atlanta's inbound, Hanno Mottola ran to the backcourt, away from Mourning. Mourning chased down Mottola to foul him, but did so with only 1.1 seconds left. After Mottola hit his free throws, LaPhonso Ellis missed a desperation three-point shot at the buzzer.

Shareef Abdur Rahim scored 34 for the Hawks, despite foul trouble that limited him to 15 minutes in the second half.

Now the Heat's mission, making the playoffs, seems that much more impossible. "Tonight was a game we were expecting to win, and we just didn't get the job done," Strickland said.

Carter update: Riley still could not say how he plans on bringing Carter back into the rotation once he's taken off the injured list after the all-star break, but he hinted that it may take some time. "A.C.'s got a lot to offer when he's healthy," Riley said.