"We just played a good basketball game," Brooks said. "We played with a lot of force, we played with good energy, but we played defensive-minded basketball.

Gilbert will be back, presumably with his bow tie on, and the hopes of an entire city that the ping pong balls will go in their favor once more.

Jodie Meeks' 3-pointer rimmed out, the ball bounced to the floor and Rondo got his hands on it to complete the triple-double.

"This is our challenge right now, to leave it behind us," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "A lot of good things tonight, but we have to focus on the next one."

But New York regrouped and surged into the lead, going up by six late in the period before taking a 64-61 advantage to the fourth.

He amassed 545 tackles, 56 1/2 sacks and 18 interceptions in his career.