Miami turns up Heat in ninth successive victory
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Trevor Ariza of the New Orleans Hornets dunks over Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat during their NBA game on Monday in Miami. The Heat won 96-84. [Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images / AFP] |
LeBron James banked in a runner as he drew a foul, then joined the crowd's roar and threw a fist.
A knockout punch? Pretty much. The basket came during a second-half spurt that turned a close game into another romp for the Miami Heat. They trailed early and waited until the end of the third quarter to make their move, winning by double figures for the ninth game in a row by beating New Orleans 96-84.
Dwyane Wade scored 32 points, topping 30 for the third consecutive game, and Chris Bosh added 23 points and 11 rebounds. The Heat blew the game open with an 18-2 spurt that put them up 94-77.
"This was for us one of the most gratifying wins, because it was a grind-out game," Wade said. "We were able to stick to it until our time finally came."
Wade had an especially efficient night: 8 for 13 from the field and 14 of 17 from the free-throw line. James had 20 points and seven assists for Miami, back home after a four-game road sweep.
"They do the same thing every night," Hornets coach Monty Williams said. "Nobody can stop them."
While the Heat roll, New Orleans continues to struggle. With a loss for the second day in a row, the Hornets fell to 3-9 after an 11-1 start. They haven't scored 100 points since Nov. 19, a stretch of 13 games.
"We need to get a win so we could see how it feels," said Chris Paul, who managed only 11 points. David West had 26 points and 12 rebounds for the Hornets, who went 1 for 13 from 3-point range.
The teams split the season series. New Orleans beat the Heat 96-93 on Nov 5.
"I think they have figured each other out," West said. "They are jelling, playing well together, sharing the ball."
Miami is the sixth team in NBA history to win nine straight games by at least 10 points or more. And James has had a hand in two of those runs - Cleveland was the last team to do it, between Nov. 22 and Dec. 9, 2008.
The 2007-08 Boston Celtics also won nine straight by double figures. The Heat have won nine in a row since Nov. 29, when they shook a slump during which they had lost four of five.
Only three teams - the 2007-08 Houston Rockets, 2003-04 New Jersey Nets and 1946-47 Washington Capitols - have won 10 straight by at least 10 points, and the Heat will try to match the NBA record on Wednesday.
Their opponent for that one? Cleveland, a team Miami beat by 28 points earlier this month in James' much-awaited return to the city he scorned by signing with the Heat this past summer. James scored 38 points in Miami's blowout win at the arena he called home for his first seven NBA seasons.
Bucks end Mavs' run
Brandon Jennings and the Milwaukee Bucks were determined to beat the NBA's hottest team and earn a signature road win.
Jennings had 23 points and 10 assists, and the Bucks rallied from a 20-point second-quarter deficit for a 103-99 victory over the Mavericks on Monday night to stop Dallas' 12-game winning streak.
Andrew Bogut contributed 21 points and 14 rebounds, and Keyon Dooling added 16 points for the Bucks, who won their fourth in five games.
"They were on a winning streak, 12 games in a row, so to come in and get a win, it's big," Jennings said after the Bucks earned their third road victory in 11 tries this season.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 30 points and Shawn Marion had 14 for the Mavericks, who hadn't lost since Nov. 19 to Chicago. Dallas had won eight straight at home over the Bucks.
"This was a game we should have won, a game we clearly had under control," Dallas' Tyson Chandler said. "We let them back in it."
Dallas coach Rick Carlisle had been downplaying the streak, saying he was more interested in his team showing overall improvement. But the Mavs should have been on alert after wasting a 25-point lead on Saturday night before coming back to beat Utah.
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