The Associated Press

MIAMI - Long removed from their 0-7 start, the Miami Heat now seem unbeatable at home.

With the Heat running from the start and New Orleans guard Baron Davis hobbled by halftime, Miami extended its home winning streak to 16 games by beating the Hornets 85-77 Tuesday night to clinch the first-round series 4-3.

The home team won every game, and the Heat became the final NBA team to reach round two - and the most improbable. They were 25-57 last season, 0-7 in November, 5-15 in December and 25-36 in March before staging a late-season surge.

"We have a lot to be proud of," forward Lamar Odom said. "At 5-15 in the NBA, a lot of teams start to get ready for next year. But we worked and worked and worked and worked and worked. This win tonight - that's all that hard work. It paid off."

Miami advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals against the top-seeded Indiana Pacers, who have been idle since completing a sweep of Boston on April 25.

"I'm not talking about Indiana tonight," Heat coach Stan Van Gundy said with a grin. "That's out. I'm enjoying this for at least three or four hours."

Game 1 is Thursday in Indianapolis.

"If I was Indiana, I'd be kind of nervous playing against this team," Davis said. "They're young and talented, and they play like they've got nothing to lose."

Smothering defense and a potent fast break gave the largest crowd in Heat history plenty to cheer about.

Caron Butler led the winner-take-all victory with 23 points, and Rafer Alston made four free throws in the final 2:09 after the Hornets reduced a 16-point deficit to five.

The injury-plagued Davis bruised his tailbone when he drew an offensive foul and took a tumble late in the second quarter. He limped to the locker room before halftime, played just three minutes in the second half and watched the fourth quarter from the bench.

Davis had been hampered earlier in the series by knee, ankle and elbow injuries.

"I can't move too much," he shouted to coach Tim Floyd shortly before leaving the game for good with the Hornets trailing 52-39.

NEW ORLEANS (77)-Lynch 4-7 1-2 9, P.Brown 4-8 2-2 10, Magloire 3-8 0-0 6, Wesley 1-10 0-0 2, Davis 2-7 0-0 5, Smith 9-14 2-3 25, Armstrong 3-7 0-0 8, Traylor 0-1 0-0 0, Augmon 0-2 0-0 0, West 1-4 3-3 5, Williams 2-4 3-4 7. Totals 29-72 11-14 77.

MIAMI (85)-C.Butler 10-18 3-6 23, Odom 7-11 1-2 16, Grant 6-10 2-5 14, Wade 5-18 2-2 12, Jones 3-13 2-2 8, Alston 3-10 4-4 11, Haslem 0-3 0-0 0, Allen 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 34-83 15-23 85.

New Orleans	18	13	22	24-77
Miami	25	16	22	22-85

3-Point Goals-New Orleans 8-20 (Smith 5-7, Armstrong 2-6, Davis 1-2, Williams 0-1, Wesley 0-2, Lynch 0-2), Miami 2-11 (Odom 1-2, Alston 1-4, Wade 0-1, Jones 0-4). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-New Orleans 49 (Magloire 10), Miami 54 (Grant, C.Butler, Odom 9). Assists-New Orleans 18 (Davis, Williams 4), Miami 17 (Wade 7). Total fouls-New Orleans 20, Miami 23. Technicals-Miami Defensive Three Second. A-20,286 (19,600).

NBA playoffs

Tuesday's games

Miami 85, New Orleans 77;

Heat win series 4-3.

Conference semifinals

Sacramento at Minnesota, n.;

Game 1 of series.

Today's game

L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, 9 p.m.;

Spurs lead series 1-0.

TELFAIR GOING PRO: Brooklyn basketball sensation Sebastian Telfair declared his eligibility for the draft Tuesday, ending months of speculation.

The 18-year-old point guard, a projected first-round pick, committed to Louisville but signed with an agent and picked up a six-year endorsement deal with Adidas. Telfair said it was worth more than $15 million.

"I'm on Cloud 40 right now," Telfair said. "My dreams have come true."

At 6 feet, he would become the shortest high school player ever selected in the draft, a challenge Telfair is prepared for.

"I've been dealing with my size all my life," Telfair said. "It hasn't stopped me yet." and it's not going to stop me now."

Telfair moved up the projected draft board considerably after a spectacular senior season at Lincoln High School, earning a McDonald's All-America appearance and a Sports Illustrated cover.