EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Seeking a way to avoid getting bounced from the playoffs, here's one possible solution for the New Jersey Nets: more Shaq.

Strange as that one sounds, it came right from New Jersey's locker room. And given the way the Nets struggled to stop others on the Miami Heat on Sunday, maybe it's not such a bad idea after all.

Dwyane Wade had 31 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, and the Heat beat the Nets 102-92 to take a 3-1 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Antoine Walker and Udonis Haslem each scored 20 points, getting plenty of good looks when New Jersey focused too much on helping against Shaquille O'Neal and leaving shooters open. Miami shot 53 percent from the field.

So the way forward Jason Collins sees it, the Nets would be better off forcing O'Neal to be more of a scorer while focusing on stopping everyone else.

"Stick with the game plan of making Shaq beat us," he said. "From Game 1 that's been the strategy. Sometimes we're able to do that and sometimes we're not."

O'Neal scored 16 points and took only 13 shots. And with the Heat one game from a second straight trip to the conference finals, he says he's not changing things now.

"I'm just playing a smart game," O'Neal said. "I'm getting it and trying to keep everybody involved. It's an easier game for me when everybody is involved. We just want to take care of business and finish it off."

They get their first chance to do that Tuesday night in Game 5 at home, where they lost Game 1 before winning three straight games.

"We're not surprised. When we play Miami Heat basketball on both ends of the floor, we're a tough team to beat, at home or on the road," Wade said. "We go home to Game 5 and try to close it out at home."

Wade was sensational as usual, but it was the play of Walker and Haslem during a key stretch of the third quarter that gave Miami the cushion it needed. Walker was 7-of-11, Haslem was 8-of-11, and they combined for 16 of Miami's 22 points during the third period, when the Heat built their lead to as much as 11.

"They hit shots, they hit a lot of shots," Nets forward Richard Jefferson said. "Udonis Haslem, I swear he didn't miss one tonight."

Jason Kidd tried to rally the Nets, getting his ninth postseason triple-double and moving over to guard Wade after his strong start. But New Jersey could never regain the lead after the first quarter.

Kidd had 17 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists, tying Wilt Chamberlain for third place on the postseason career list and moving within one of Larry Bird for second.

Vince Carter added 26 points and Jefferson scored 17. Nenad Krstic had 20 points and 14 rebounds.