Jones nailed a 3-pointer and converted a four-point play in the final 33 seconds, but it was not enough as the Heat's 12-game winning streak came to an end with an 84-82 setback against the Houston Rockets.
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"Their run at the end kind of scared us a little bit," McGrady said. "But we did what we had to do to win the ballgame."
The Rockets won despite shooting only 35 percent (28-of-79).
"You have to be able to win in this league when you don't shoot well," Jeff Van Gundy said.
"It goes to show that on nights when we don't shoot the ball well, there are other ways to win," McGrady said. "It's playing great defense, getting to the loose balls, making all the effort plays. If we do what we have to do defensively, then we can beat anybody."
Houston, which won for the seventh time in nine games, received an unexpected contribution from Dikembe Mutombo. The 38-year-old center, who has seen limited minutes this season, collected eight points and a season-high 15 rebounds -- including eight on the offensive glass -- and disrupted numerous shots.
"Dikembe is a great competitor," Jeff Van Gundy said. "Even when we were struggling early to score, he gave us second shots. That fight is very inspiring."
"When you play somebody like Shaq (Heat center Shaquille O'Neal), you have to be physically ready," said Mutombo, who played 25 minutes. "You're going to get hit, you're going to get pushed. You have to try get inside his head by pushing him off the block. Don't give him any easy dunks. Shaq makes a living in the paint."
Mutombo also helped with the continuous teaching process for Houston's starting center Yao Ming, who had 12 points and nine rebounds before fouling out.
"When I'm playing with Yao, I feel like I'm passing the torch," Mutombo said. "He said, 'That was a good lesson I learned from you tonight.'"
The Rockets held a 74-62 advantage on a 3-pointer by McGrady with 5:45 remaining and still secured an 80-72 cushion after Mike James nailed a shot from the arc with 40 seconds left. But Jones -- who played collegiately at Houston -- countered with a 3-pointer seven seconds later, then nailed another and was fouled by James with 14.3 seconds left.
Jones sank the free throw to pull Miami within 80-79.
"Damon has been great for us all year," Stan Van Gundy said. "He makes shots and he's improved his defense."
The foul by James on the play upset Jeff Van Gundy.
"Giving Damon Jones an open three and giving Damon Jones a four-point play is completely unacceptable," he said. "Stupidity will beat you."
"It was definitely a mistake on my part," James said. "I couldn't believe (Jones' shot went in)."
The Rockets twice fouled Dwyane Wade in the closing seconds before he could get off a 3-pointer, and Wade missed the first free throw each time.
"It was one of those days," said Wade, who scored 20 points but shot 4-for-19 from the field. "Unfortunately, they happen and it wasn't to be my night."
O'Neal contributed 23 points and 16 rebounds but made just 5-of-10 free throws for the Heat.
"We had too many turnovers," said O'Neal, whose team's 18 turnovers were nine more than the Rockets committed. "We were a little complacent, but I am really proud of our guys on the run that we made."
The Heat held a 55-49 edge after a jumper by Michael Doleac with 4:38 left in the third quarter but were blanked for nearly seven minutes until Alonzo Mourning's follow shot got Miami within 63-57 with 9:47 to play.