NEW ORLEANS, April 2 (Ticker) -- Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade made sure that the Miami Heat can do no worse than share the best record in the Eastern Conference at the end of the season.

O'Neal collected 34 points and 15 rebounds while Wade added 33 points and nine assists as the Heat posted a 111-99 victory over the New Orleans Hornets.

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The victory gave Miami (55-19) at least a share of the best record in the conference, and the Heat can secure home-court advantage in the first three rounds with another win or a loss by Detroit (45-27).

"We'll clinch that No. 1 spot," O'Neal said. "I've got a real good feeling about this team. We've got nine great guys that can come in and do the job."

Miami trails only the Phoenix Suns (55-17) for the best record in the league.

The Heat dominated in the low post early, taking the lead for good at the midway point of the first quarter. Of the Heat's 23 first-half baskets, 18 were dunks, layups or follow shots.

"Both Dwyane and Shaq were great in the low post tonight," Heat coach Stan Van Gundy said. "Dwyane was great around the basket. This was one of the few games we really posted him a lot."

"We wanted to come out and drive the ball. We didn't want to settle for jump shots," Wade said. "As we got (inside), a lot of things opened up. And nobody's going to jump too much when Shaq goes up, anyway."

Miami outscored New Orleans, 64-38, in the paint. It was the most inside points surrendered by the Hornets this season.

Wade triggered the offense in the first half with 24 points and O'Neal added 17 as Miami opened a 54-44 advantage at the break.

"I thought our guys were intimidated by those guys," New Orleans coach Byron Scott said. "Shaq is so dominant and strong. Wade is one of the most explosive guys going to the basket."

"(Wade) did whatever he wanted to do in the first half," Hornets guard Speedy Claxton said.

Damon Jones scored 20 of his 22 points in the second half, burying six 3-pointers, as the Heat led by as many as 22 points.

"Every team needs a great shooter," O'Neal said. "He's a fabulous shooter."

P.J. Brown scored a season-high 22 points off the bench for New Orleans, which was swept in the season series by Miami for the first time.

"It was just tough on both ends," Brown said. "It was either let (O'Neal) go one-on-one with our big man or double-team him and let him kick it out to their 3-point shooters."