--Miami (13-60) is still trying to avoid the worst season in franchise history. It needs three victories to eclipse the 15-67 record of the inaugural team in 1988-89.
--G Daequan Cook said he'd try to play Monday night at Indiana. Cook sustained a concussion against New York and has missed the last two games. --C Shaquille O'Neal told the New York Daily News for Sunday's editions, "When I was in Miami I was thinking that this might be my last year. I did think about it... walking away at the end of the season. But there's no way I'm retiring now. I like these guys. They're great. So this isn't my last game here. I'll be coming back next year."
Many wonder, however, if O'Neal would have walked away from $40 million, the two-year total that would have left on his contract.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Historically in this league, it's been easier to get from way on the bottom to the top than it is from the middle. The middle takes you sometimes forever, if you do get there." -- Acting head coach Ron Rothstein.
