NBA: Triple from LeBron seals Heats 24th successive win
The Miami Heat battled back from the brink to record a 98-95 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday night – extending their win tally to 24 – the second-longest winning streak in NBA history.
The defending champions had trailed 67-40 but with LeBron James again pulling the strings they responded in emphatic fashion. James finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
“That guy right there doesn’t want to lose in this building,” teammate Dwyane Wade said, nodding toward James, who left many angry Cavaliers fans behind when he bolted for Miami as a free agent three years ago. “Not tonight.”
Wednesday night saw the Heat inch closer to history and match the NBA’s biggest comeback this season, according to STATS.
“This was one of the most bizarre, unique days of my life with everything that happened,” said James, referring to a homecoming in which a fan ran onto the floor and the opening tip was delayed 35 minutes by a leaky scoreboard. “It also was one of the best comebacks I’ve ever been a part of.”
Other Games
The San Antonio Spurs continue to keep the pressure on the Heat with a 104-93 triumph over the Golden State Warriors.
Tim Duncan top-scored with 25 points as the Spurs improved to 52-16, the league’s second best record behind Miami (53-14).
Brook Lopez scored 38 points and Deron Williams added 31 to help the Brooklyn Nets prevailed 113-96 against the Dallas Mavericks.
JR Smith poured in 22 points and the fit-again Carmelo Anthony contributed 21 to lift the New York Knicks to a 106-94 success against the Orlando Magic.
Marc Gasol’s tip-in in the final second of overtime secured a 90-89 victory for the Memphis Grizzlies against the Oklahoma City Thunder, while James Harden scored 29 points as the Houston Rockets boosted their play-off hopes by toppling the Utah Jazz 100-93.
The New Orleans Hornets snapped a four-game losing run with an 87-86 win against the Boston Celtics, a last-gasp tip-in from rookie Anthony Davis proving decisive.
Jeff Teague’s 27 points led the Atlanta Hawks to a 98-90 win against the Milwaukee Bucks, while Byron Mullens’ 25 points helped the Charlotte Bobcats achieve back-to-back victories by overcoming the Toronto Raptors 107-101.
The Los Angeles Clippers thrashed Philadelphia 101-72, Chris Paul’s 19 points helping condemn the 76ers to a 14th straight road loss, and the Washington Wizards triumphed 88-79 against the Phoenix Suns.
