LeBron notches career-high as Heat burn Cats
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LeBron James (6) is defended by Charlotte Bobcats small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) in the first half at American Airlines Arena, Miami, March 3, 2014. The Heat won 124-107. |
LeBron James scored a career-high 61 points to break the Miami Heat one-game scoring record, sparking the defending NBA champions over the Charlotte Bobcats 124-107.
It was his 10th time in his career that James cracked the 50-point barrier. The Heat's season win streak stretched to eight games in a row with a 16th consecutive victory in meetings with Charlotte, whose win drought against Miami now spans four years.
James sank eight 3-pointers, hitting 22-of-33 shots from the field overall, and also grabbed seven rebounds and passed off five assists.
"It was a special performance," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "He was efficient. The rim certainly looked like an ocean to him."
The former Heat single-game scoring record was 56 points by Glen Rice in April of 1995. On a night when Miami star guard Dwyane Wade was rested, Chris Bosh contributed 15 points and seven rebounds.
Miami shot 55.4 percent from the floor, including 16-of-28 from 3-point range.
Charlotte's Al Jefferson scored 38 points and grabbed 19 rebounds.
The Heat improved to 43-14, trailing only Eastern Conference rival Indiana (46-13) for the best record in the NBA and a home-court edge throughout the playoffs. Charlotte fell to 27-33 as the Bobcats and Atlanta fight for the final two playoff positions in the East.
James scored Miami's first eight points of the second half, then added back-to-back three-point plays late in the period for an 89-69 Heat lead. He set several other Heat team records, including 22 baskets in a game, most points in a quarter by a player with 25 and most second-half points with 37.
Memphis' Tayshaun Prince scored a season-high 21 points to lead the Grizzlies to a 110-104 win over Washington. Brooklyn got back to a .500 win-loss record for the first time since early November by beating Chicago 96-80.
Los Angeles' Kent Bazemore threw an alley-oop to Wesley Johnson for the go-ahead dunk with 6.9 seconds left to lift the Lakers to a 107-106 win over Portland.
Minnesota's Kevin Love scored 33 points and tied a season high with 19 rebounds for his NBA-best 50th double-double this season as the Timberwolves beat skidding Denver 132-128 for its third win in a row.
Detroit surged past New York in a match of slumping teams, beating the Knicks 96-85 with Andre Drummond having a career-high 26 rebounds.
Sacramento's DeMarcus Cousins had 23 points and 12 rebounds as the Kings beat slumping New Orleans 96-89. Milwaukee hit an impressive 57 percent from the field to beat Utah 114-88.
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