MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 8 (Ticker) -- Mike Miller took advantage of Shaquille O'Neal's absence and helped improve the Memphis Grizzlies' playoff hopes.

NBA TV highlights from Heat-Grizzlies: 300k

Miller scored a season-high 28 points as the Grizzlies won their fourth game in five outings, a 97-81 triumph over the Miami Heat.

Memphis (43-32) is one-half game behind Denver for seventh place in the Western Conference and leads ninth-place Minnesota by three games.

O'Neal, Miami's All-Star center and a leading MVP candidate, was sidelined for the second straight game with a stomach virus. The Grizzlies responded by making 12 of their first 18 shots, including five 3-pointers, for a 32-14 lead after the first quarter.

Bonzi Wells scored 13 second-quarter points and helped Memphis extend the margin to 59-29 with 2:23 left in the half - Miami's largest deficit of the season.

Miami got within 14 points twice in the second half. But Miller scored 11 third-quarter points and hit his fifth 3-pointer with 2:53 left in the fourth for a 93-75 edge.

Pau Gasol scored 17 points, Wells had 15 and Jason Williams 13 for the Grizzlies, who earned a split of the season series for the second straight campaign.

Dwyane Wade scored 16 points, Damon Jones had 14 and Eddie Jones and Kenyon Dooling 13 each for the Heat (56-20), who shot 33 percent (11-of-33) and were outscored in the paint, 24-2, in the first half.

The Heat already have wrapped up home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.