Jazz notes: Ray Allen anchors Heat's perimeter game

Miami • The reaction of many when Ray Allen signed with the Heat was shared by Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin.

"Wow," he said Friday. "Wow."

Allen, 37, signed a three-year contract with the Heat in the offseason after Miami dispatched Allen's Boston Celtics in seven games in the Eastern Conference finals, giving the already potent champs a reliable 3-point threat.

"It was a need, man," Jazz guard Randy Foye said. "He came to where he feel as though he was wanted."

Allen, the all-time leader in 3-pointers, averages 11.8 points per game and shoots 46.1 percent from the perimeter. He ranks fourth in the NBA in the category, one spot behind teammate Rashard Lewis, another veteran who signed with the Heat in the offseason and shoots 47.4 percent on 3-pointers.

On Wednesday, Corbin marveled at "how much more space the other guys will have because if Ray Allen is sitting anywhere on the perimeter, you have to have a guy close to him, because he can make you pay."

Allen's move was heartbreaking for Boston, which saw one of the leaders of its own, but aging, Big Three turn down more money to join LeBron James and Dwyane Wade on South Beach.

"It's interesting how good teams get better because good guys want to play with those teams," Corbin said.

Howard out

Former Jazz forward Josh Howard's career took another hit Thursday when he was waived by Minnesota a month after joining the Timberwolves.

The 10-year veteran last played on Dec. 14 after suffering a knee injury.

However, further examination revealed he had torn his ACL.

The Timberwolves reportedly will move quickly to replace Howard and his defensive acumen; however, coach Rick Adelman thinks that's easier said than done.

"We need someone like Josh," he told the St. Paul Pioneer-Press. "That's really what we need."

In 11 games, Howard averaged 6.7 points. He averaged 8.7 with the Jazz in the lockout-shortened season, but Utah opted not to re-sign him.

Chasing Karl

Miami's James has scored 20 or more points in every game this season. His 23-game streak is the longest since Karl Malone scored 20-plus in 24 games to start the 1989-90 season.

In an interesting twist, James will have the chance to tie Malone's streak against The Mailman's former team.