QUARTER-BY-QUARTER ANALYSIS First quarter: The Bobcats and Heat collided with key players missing from each team. Starting centers Primoz Brezec of Charlotte and Shaquille O’Neal of Miami were out with injuries. Bobcats point guard Brevin Knight was given a rest with Coach Bernie Bickerstaff saying backup Cory Alexander had earned some more minutes in the late-season games and choosing to play Alexander with Jason Hart. There were plenty of others willing to pick up the slack, however, in an opening period marked by a high-tempo pace, a barrage of perimeter shots and good shooting. Rasual Butler came off the bench to hit 3-of-5 shots and score seven to help keep the Heat ahead by margins of up to nine points. Melvin Ely and Keith Bogans scored six apiece for the Bobcats, who outshot Miami 47.4 percent to 45.5 percent but were beaten badly (15-7) on the boards. The score: Miami 30, Charlotte 25. Second quarter: Reserve forward Jason Kapono, who scored two points in the first quarter, came back with eight more in the second to keep the Bobcats in contention. Charlotte’s deficit remained seven to nine points most of the way, though a wing jumper by Kapono got it briefly down to five (44-39) with 4:43 remaining. Miami came right back, though, getting an Alonzo Mourning dunk and a Damon Jones three-pointer to push the margin out to a high of 10 with 4:03 left. The separation later reached 11 on four occasions. Butler had 13, Mourning 11 and Dwyane Wade 10 to top the Heat. Kapono and Bogans had 10 apiece for the Bobcats. The halftime score: Miami 57, Charlotte 46. Third quarter: This was a quarter to forget for the Bobcats. They played on near-even terms with Miami but could never ignite one of the second-half comebacks to which they’ve become so accustomed this season. The Heat’s lead moved steadily up for several minutes, once reaching 14 (70-56 with 4:21 to play on a Damon Jones three-pointer). Eddie Jones with seven points in the period and Udonis Haslem with six helped hold off Charlotte’s bid for a rally. The Bobcats, playing without Brezec and Knight, never found a sustained offensive spark. They still trailed by 12 at the end of the third despite limiting the Heat to 27.8 percent shooting. The score: Miami 77, Charlotte 65. Fourth quarter: The game finally turned ugly for the Bobcats as it moved into the closing minutes. After repeatedly flirting with a comeback and closing to within eight points on several occasions, the Bobcats ran into a scoring drought over several minutes. The Heat took advantage, running the lead out to 15 (90-75) with 5:33 to play and then to 17 (92-75) with 3:52 left to remove any doubt. The high-water mark was a spread of 22 just before the finish. Miami’s biggest weapon was the shooting arm of Butler, who rifled in 11-of-14 shots and scored 25. Ely, Bogans and Kapono scored 14 apiece for the Bobcats. Wallace, averaging 11.3 points, got into early foul trouble and finished with five personals and two points. The final: Miami 99, Charlotte 88. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GM & HEAD COACH BERNIE BICKERSTAFF SAYS... (on the game) We held the dam as long as we could. Then they busted it open. It was just a matter of time. They got some easy baskets, both some emotional baskets and some dunks. They played well. That’s a good basketball team. They started to make shots and we didn’t get back. (on whether he was disappointed that Bobcats could get the ball more frequently to Emeka Okafor inside) They did a good job on him, in terms of swarming on him. And we really didn’t have the self-discipline to get that done. But that shows you the respect that he has. And we’ve got to learn how to get the ball in his hands…We became basically a perimeter team. (on whether Gerald Wallace’s shoulder injury bothered him) No. I think he was limited by his fouls. Not only him but Mel (Melvin Ely) and Emeka (Okafor). And that’s not a complaint about the officials. That’s what happened. We were limited. (on whether the absence of Shaquille O’Neal in the final two regular season games will hurt Miami in the playoffs) No, not the way he plays. He plays that middle. He passes the basketball and he’s a presence. The guy is wearing rings so basically he knows how to get it done. But at this stage (his absence) will take some of the trauma off his body. So they’ll be fine. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM MALIK ALLEN (on playing against his former team) It was good seeing the guys. It felt a little funny coming back and playing in the AA Arena but it was good seeing them. I came up with a lot of (the Heat players). It was competitive and I wanted to be competitive. They’re a good bunch of guys. (on the Heat without Shaquille O’Neal in the lineup) Having been there before, I know how they prepare when the Big Fella’s not going to be out there. They basically have a different game. You kind of want to see him out there playing but then again, you’re kind of happy he’s not out there. (on the Heat heading into the playoffs) The Big Fella’s been there and done it many times. They’ve got a lot of good veteran leadership over there. They’ve been playing too well all season to let the wheels fall off the bus now. EMEKA OKAFOR (on the game) I guess they’re getting ready for that playoff run. They’re tightening up all their nuts and bolts. They were really on target tonight. Team 1 2 3 4 TOT CHA 25 21 19 15 80 MIA 30 27 20 22 99 STAR OF THE GAME MELVIN ELY 14 points 6-of-11 FGs 7 rebounds 1 steal SUB OF THE GAME JASON KAPONO 14 points 6-of-8 FGs 2 rebounds 2 assists 3 steals QUOTE OF THE DAY "We didn’t get stops but they’re a good basketball team and they’re primed for the playoffs.” -- Bernie Bickerstaff LINE OF THE GAME Jason Hart: 6 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals HUSTLE BOARD Team REB STL BLK TOT CHA 39 7 1 47 MIA 52 8 6 66 --

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