The losses kept mounting, and Eddie Jones, like the rest of his underperforming teammates, couldn't rise above it.

At 5-23, the Heat guard was depressed and distressed, more so than anytime in his career.

''I had insomnia, real bad,'' he said. ``After games, I couldn't sleep until 3 or 4 in the morning. That probably hurt my game even more. I was miserable. Being laughed at, being a team nobody thought would do anything. That's the worst. That's bottoming out.''

Equally disturbing, he began questioning the perception of him among his peers.

''I've always mattered in this league, and I don't want anyone to look down on me,'' he said. ``I didn't want to have a season where everyone didn't believe in me and didn't think about me at all.''

So much has changed. Since dominating Reggie Miller on New Year's Eve, Jones has embarked on the most impressive stretch of his 1 ?-year Heat tenure -- one he hopes to continue when Miami begins its post-All-Star-break schedule Wednesday against the visiting Orlando Magic.

Seven times in the past 19 games, Jones has scored nine or more points in the fourth quarter. His late heroics won games against Golden State, Portland, Chicago and Denver, and contributed to wins over Indiana, San Antonio and New York.

Since that Dec. 31 win at Indiana, Jones is averaging 21.0 points -- up from 17.9 before that point.

''He has been absolutely great the past six weeks,'' Riley said. ``He's not as confused as he was in the past. He has fit right into the offense exactly where he belongs.''

Jones, 30, credits a conversation with Riley. ''He talked about mattering,'' Jones said. 'We were 5-21 at the time, and it made me think. I didn't want anyone to think, `This guy used to have it.' I believe I still have it.''

If Jones had begun his impressive stretch earlier in the season, he might have been playing in Sunday's All-Star Game. Getting back to that level for a fourth time motivates him. So is having his name again mentioned among the elite shooting guards.

''Of course that's important,'' Jones said. ``You want teams to set up their defenses to stop you. That goes in the same line of what coach said -- mattering.''

Jones admitted before the season he has never felt completely comfortable in the Heat's system. He prefers to freelance defensively and play a full-court, slashing game offensively. The Heat's strict defensive rules and halfcourt-oriented offense don't play to his strengths.

But Riley has accommodated Jones recently by giving him the ball with the game on the line. That was a natural evolution with the departure of Tim Hardaway, who took most of the game-deciding shots in recent years.

And Jones has become more assertive.

''The system is still the system, but I'm being more aggressive in the system,'' he said. ``And coach is letting me play. I'm running my cuts harder, trying to get open.

``And defensively, I don't over-anticipate anymore like I used to. Sometimes, it put the team at a disadvantage. Now, if I know I can get a steal, I'm going for it.''

Although Jones respects Hardaway, he works better alongside Rod Strickland.

''Tim always demanded the ball, and now we have a point guard that just likes to run a lot of plays,'' Jones said.

Jones' fourth-quarter eruptions have been particularly encouraging. Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal has accused Jones of not wanting the ball with the game on the line -- a perception that has been shattered.

''Coach is definitely calling my number in the fourth quarter a great deal,'' he said. ``I love it. In the New York game, when I got an isolation up top in the fourth quarter, I had a smile on my face because I wanted it that bad to put the game away.''

Which he did.

Since New Year's Eve, Jones has averaged 5.5 points in the fourth quarter, topping his 3.7 average in the fourth quarter of his first 27 games.

''Eddie has been our go-to guy,'' center Alonzo Mourning said. ``He has taken his play to another level.''