Heat Win Debut In New Arena

The game was nearly over before the Miami Heat got the scoreboard at their new arena working the way they wanted.

Miami overcame a 10-point deficit in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter and beat the Orlando Magic 111-103 in overtime Sunday night in the first game at the $215 million American Airlines Arena.

The game drew a sellout crowd of 19,600, but many fans departed before the wild finish.

"We were dead in the water with three minutes to go," Heat coach Pat Riley said. "We're going to have to be better than we were tonight to keep people interested."

Mourning hit three free throws in the extra period to put Miami ahead to stay, and a 3-pointer by Dan Majerle made it 104-98. The Magic went four minutes without a point, and the Heat made five free throws in the final 40 seconds.

Voshon Lenard led Miami with 24 points. Mourning had just two points at halftime but finished with 21 despite missing 14 of 18 shots.

Miami's Jamal Mashburn, who returned to the lineup after missing five games because of a sprained ankle, added 22 points and 10 rebounds.

"Orlando definitely outplayed us, but it's not over until it's over," Mourning said. "We found a way to win."

Tariq Abdul-Wahad scored 22 points and Darrell Armstrong 16 for the Magic, but the two guards shot a combined 13-for-38. Orlando lost despite a 63-45 advantage in rebounds.

"This is one you'll think about," Orlando's Chris Gatling said. "It's going to be a tough ride home."

The Heat trailed for most of the game and never got closer than seven points in the fourth quarter until the final two minutes.

Rookie Anthony Carter sparked the comeback with the first 3-pointer of his career, closing the deficit to 95-92 with 1:17 left.

"That's when I said, `We're going to get this deal,"' teammate P.J. Brown said.

Carter missed his first seven 3-point attempts of the season.

The Heat won their third game in a row and beat the Magic for the second time in five days. The Magic lost their fourth consecutive game and slipped to .500.

"It seems like every game is the toughest of the year, but this one by far hurts more than the others," Orlando coach Doc Rivers said. "We outplayed them until the end."

Orlando center John Amaechi scored the first basket in the arena

and the first of the new century in the NBA. His jersey will be sent to the Hall of Fame.

Darrell Armstrong scored seven points to help Orlando outscore Miami 18-2 and go ahead 26-18. Corey Maggette and Michael Doleac made jumpers to beat the final buzzer at the end of the first and third periods for the Magic.

But at the finish, Miami felt at home.

"It's an absolutely beautiful place," Riley said. "And it's a good win. We'll take it."

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