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Nets-Heat: 56k | 300k |
The Nets were playing without Martin, who sprained his left ankle in the first half of their 88-76 win over Chicago on Friday.
"We feel kind of slighted that he wasn't out there because he kicked our (butts) the last time and we wanted that challenge," Odom said.
The Heat routed the Nets here on January 23, 85-64, in a game that likely cost Nets coach Byron Scott his job, but New Jersey countered with home wins on February 4 and 28.
"You play with what you have," Nets coach Lawrence Frank said. "We have quality players. We'll regroup and learn from this game. We'll get better."
Eddie Jones scored 23 points, Caron Butler added 18 and rookie Dwyane Wade 16 for the Heat, who have won five of their last six games. Odom, who missed his first six shots, finished 3-of-9 but had 15 points and seven rebounds.
The Heat held an 82-69 lead early in the fourth quarter before the Nets closed to 89-85 on a pair of free throws by Kerry Kittles with 5:09 remaining. Odom countered with a hook shot 16 seconds later, then added a dunk to make it 93-85 with 4:29 to play.
"I'm no longer playing for stats, or how many points I score or shots I take or shooting percentage," Odom said. "I'm playing to win, and my goal is to do what I have to do to help this team win. My goal is to stay out of foul trouble and be on the floor at the end of the game to help us win."
After New Jersey closed to 95-90 on a 3-pointer by Kittles with 3:26 left, Jones sank a shot from the arc with the shot clock winding down and Odom - working against the smaller Richard Jefferson - scored on another hook shot to make it 100-90 with 1:45 remaining.
"We finished it up well," Heat coach Stan Van Gundy said. "We had some guys who really wanted the ball in the fourth quarter."
Jefferson scored 25 points to pace the Nets, who shot 52 percent (35-of-68) but allowed the Heat to connect on 54 percent (38-of-71). Starting in Martin's place, Rodney Rogers scored 14 points.
"They were finishing their drives to the hole and were shooting a really high percentage, so we couldn't get out and run to make easy baskets like we usually do," Jefferson said. "We should be able to defend even without Kenyon, but they hit some tough shots."
The game was tied, 34-34, before the Heat embarked on a 12-0 run late in the second quarter to take the lead for good. Miami took its biggest lead, 77-62, on a 3-pointer by Rafer Alston with 1:53 left in the third quarter.
"We made a nice run at the end, but we couldn't get any defensive stops, either," said Nets point guard Jason Kidd, who had 13 points and seven assists. "At that point, you can't trade basket-for-basket if you want to win the game."
