Miami ? Playing for the first time in five weeks, Shaquille O’Neal came through in the clutch – and at the free-throw line, of all places.

The NBA’s most notoriously erratic foul shooter sank the second of two tries with a second left in regulation to force overtime, and the Miami Heat ended a four-game losing streak by beating Washington, 104-101, Sunday night.

Coming off the bench in his first action since a sprained right ankle sidelined him Nov. 3, O’Neal looked rusty but finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds, four in overtime. He fouled out with 1:33 left after playing 23 minutes.

“I felt pretty good,” O’Neal said. “I just wanted to get my guys going – bring some energy and spirit to the lineup.”

Dwyane Wade scored a season-high 41 points, including the final six for the Heat, and added 10 rebounds and eight assists. But it was O’Neal who sank the shot that kept Miami in the game.

The Wizards led 95-94 with seven seconds left in the fourth quarter, but the Heat won a jump ball at their end. Wade passed inside to O’Neal, who was immediately fouled.

Nervous, big guy?

“I don’t get nervous in any situation,” O’Neal said. “There’s no such thing as nerves when you’re playing games.”

Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal goes to the basket as Washington Wizards' Etan Thomas, foreground, defends Sunday in Miami. The Heat wore the 1972 Miami Floridians uniform, and the Wizards wore the 1972 Baltimore Bullets uniform during a throwback game. Miami won, 104-101 in overtime.

His first attempt rimmed out, but after a Miami timeout, he swished the second try.

“I knew I was going to make one,” O’Neal said. “I wanted to make two, but the first one rattled in and rattled right out.”

O’Neal finished 6-for-16 at the line, not including two misses negated by lane violations.

Washington lost despite season-high scoring performances by reserves Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins. Butler had 28 points and Atkins 26.

“I think we’ve proven we can play with anybody in the Eastern Conference,” Atkins said. “Now we have to learn how to win.”

The Heat beat the Wizards for the ninth time in a row. Washington’s last win in the series came on April 11, 2003.

Gilbert Arenas, battling tightness in his groin, scored 24 points for Washington but missed 19 of 24 shots. The Wizards, who blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead Saturday night to Chicago, lost their third game in a row.

Miami’s Gary Payton had 21 points and seven rebounds, both season highs.

Wade’s basket with two minutes left in overtime put Miami ahead to stay, 100-98. He topped 30 for the third game in a row.

“With Dwyane, you almost have to have three defenders,” Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said.

The game was billed as a tribute to the ’70s, with both teams in throwback uniforms. The Heat wore black, pink and orange outfits styled after the Miami Floridians of the ABA, while Washington wore Baltimore Bullets-style uniforms.

Reviews of the apparel were mixed, but some of the basketball was unsightly. Washington shot 39 percent and still led for much of the game. When Atkins scored 11 points in a three-minute span to help the Wizards take a 46-38 lead, there were scattered boos from the crowd.

O’Neal entered with 5:55 left in the first quarter to an enthusiastic but brief ovation. He scored his first point less than two minutes later, making one of two free throws. His first field goal, late in the third quarter, put Miami ahead, 66-60.

The Heat went 9-9 during the five weeks O’Neal was sidelined. They’re 2-1 with him.

“Words can’t express how good it is to see him back out there,” teammate Alonzo Mourning said. “I know how frustrating it was for him to be out.”

Kings 110, Hornets 100

Sacramento, Calif. – Bonzi Wells scored 14 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, Peja Stojakovic hit six three-pointers and Sacramento snapped a four-game home losing streak. Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 23 points and 11 rebounds on his 29th birthday for the Kings, who finished off back-to-back victories following a five-game losing streak with excellent late-game execution.

Sacramento held New Orleans without a field goal for four minutes in the fourth quarter, and the Kings hit plenty of late free throws as they handed the Hornets their ninth straight loss at Arco Arena. Stojakovic also had 23 points, and Brad Miller added 10 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds.

Pistons 109, Clippers 101

Los Angeles – Chauncey Billups scored 25 points, Richard Hamilton had 23 points, and Detroit overcame Ben Wallace’s poor free-throw shooting.

The two-time defending Eastern Conference champion Pistons have won four straight on the road and are 10-1 away from home. Los Angeles entered 9-1 at home, but the absence of starting forward Corey Maggette for the third straight game was too much to overcome.

Elton Brand had 36 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers, who were trying to sweep a five-game homestand for the first time since 1978-79, when the team was based in San Diego.

Rockets 100, Trail Blazers 86

Portland, Ore. – Tracy McGrady matched his season high with 35 points and added seven rebounds. Since McGrady returned from a strained back, the Rockets have won three straight and four of their last five – including a 106-95 victory Thursday in Sacramento. Without McGrady, who has been nagged by back pain since the start of the season, Houston is 0-8.

Houston has won eight straight meetings with Portland, including a pair of visits last season to the Rose Garden.

Houston center Yao Ming fouled out with five minutes left. He had nine points and five rebounds. David Wesley and Stromile Swift each had 11 points.