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Sonics-Heat: 56k | 300k 
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Miami appeared headed for an easy night against as it led by as many as 16 points in the first half. But it allowed Seattle to hang around and lost the lead for the first time at 70-69 when Ray Allen made a pair from the line with 3:19 to play.
Instead of folding, the Heat outscored the SuperSonics, 13-4, down the stretch. Alston highlighted the spurt with two uncontested 3-pointers from the top of the key that helped finish off Seattle.
"You come into this league wanting to get an opportunity to make the big plays in a big game," Alston said. "To knock those down in that situation feels great."
Alston's first 3-pointer made it 73-72 with 1:49 to play and his second one gave the Heat a 76-72 edge with 1:33 left.
"The first one felt good coming out of my hands," Alston said. "I can't even tell you how the second one felt. It was huge for us."
Allen hit a jumper on Seattle's next possession to cut the deficit to 76-74, but Lamar Odom made his only 3-pointer of the night with 48 seconds left.
"Rafer gave me the confidence to hit that three," Odom said. "I was just thinking about getting my feet set and when I got the open look I had to give it a shot."
The Heat (29-37) won for the the fourth time in five games and inched one-half game ahead of Boston for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The top eight teams make the playoffs.
"To go through a playoff race is exciting enough," said Miami guard Eddie Jones, who led the team with 19 points. "But when you win a game like this, there's added excitement."
Seattle opened a five-game road trip with its sixth straight loss. It shot a woeful 37 percent (28-of-76), including 3-of-22 from the arc, missing three 3-pointers in the final minute.
While the SuperSonics did rally, they could not overcome a slow start. They made just 2-of-15 shots in the first quarter and tied a team record with 25 points in the first half.
"We did not score well tonight," said Allen, who scored 16 points. "I think what we did in the second half, we played like we were capable of playing. The first two quarters, we just didn't make any shots. We got in early foul trouble, and it was all downhill from there."