The Heat roll to 2-0 lead over 76ers, 94-73

MIAMI – LeBron James outscored Philadelphia's entire starting five in the first half by himself.

So did Chris Bosh.

So did Dwyane Wade.

And that pretty much tells the tale of a night the 76ers would rather forget.

No comeback required for the Miami Heat this time. They went wire-to-wire on the lead, and moved two wins from advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

James scored 29 points, Bosh had his second straight double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Miami took a 2-0 series lead with a 94-73 victory over the abysmally shooting 76ers — who managed their second-lowest playoff scoring total in the last 56 years — on Monday night.

"It was a really complete game for us at both ends of the floor," James said.

Showing no signs of the migraine that he battled Sunday, Wade scored 14 points for Miami, now 17-3 in its last 20 games and halfway to winning its first playoff series since the 2006 NBA finals.

"I'm feeling a lot better," said Wade, who wasn't able to eat Sunday and was very low-energy at times before Monday's game. "I lost a lot of weight tonight ... but I think I did my job, to come out there and help my team get a win."

Thaddeus Young scored 18 points and Evan Turner added 15 for the 76ers, whose starters were outscored 76-29 by the Heat's first-string. Philadelphia shot 34 percent for the game, and after getting 42 points in the paint in Game 1, were held to 24 in that department Monday.

"We've had good defensive performances," Bosh said, "but I think today was our best of the season."

The 76ers find themselves needing to buck some serious history. Miami has never lost a series after winning the first two games (6-0), and the Philadelphia franchise is winless in 16 tries after falling into an 0-2 postseason hole. And then there's this — only 14 teams have won after losing the first two games of a best-of-seven NBA series.

"If they're playing great, they're a better team," Sixers coach Doug Collins said. "OK? If they're playing on top of their game, they're a better team. I mean, they won 58, we won 41. That doesn't mean that we aren't going to play and compete and fight. But when they come out tonight and defend the way they did ... it's going to be very difficult for us to beat them."

It was Philadelphia's second-lowest playoff point total since 1955, the only exception coming in a 79-68 loss to Orlando in 1999. And the 76ers won that series.

Philadelphia made 15 of its first 24 shots in Game 1, a 63 percent clip. Since then: 47 of 140, 34 percent.

"You've got to give them credit," said Sixers guard Andre Iguodala, who has nine points on 4-for-15 shooting in the series.

Wade played 34 minutes, despite spending Sunday bedridden in a darkened room fighting off a migraine that he likened to a "nightmare." He had no outward ill effects, shooting 4 for 11 with six rebounds.

Instead, it's the 76ers who spent much of Monday looking pained.

"He controlled the game," James said of Wade. "He had two people on him so he just got off the ball and let other guys make things happen and it's good to have him on the court than in a suit."

Game 3 is Thursday night in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia shot only 26 percent in the first half, a record for a Heat playoff opponent. The 76ers' starters were outscored 41-9 in the opening 24 minutes, and unlike their last two meetings, never put a scare into Miami. Philadelphia had a 16-point lead in the teams' final regular-season matchup, a 14-point lead in Game 1, but simply couldn't get rolling Monday.

The 76ers didn't even have a starter reach double figures until 3:49 remained in the third quarter, when Jrue Holiday made a 3-pointer to get to 10 points. By then, James had 23, Bosh had 15 and Wade 12 — and the Heat led 68-50.

The margin kept growing from there, all the way to 28 at one point. A clearly frustrated Collins got a technical with 1:56 left and the game decided, the Heat holding a 91-67 lead.

"We just have to continue to fight," Sixers guard Lou Williams said. "Obviously we're dealing with a team that has a lot of guys that can score the basketball. ... They did what they were supposed to do, which was come out and defend the home court for two games and send us back to Philly with a sour taste in our mouths."

It was over fairly early. James said he wanted to be more aggressive in Game 2 than he was in the series opener, and apparently that message got to all corners of the Heat locker room.

Philadelphia was within 28-20 midway through the second quarter, but a 21-11 Heat run to end the half took care of that. James had consecutive baskets, the second of them a highlight-quality one-handed dunk off a high alley-oop lob from Mario Chalmers for a 37-23 lead, and Miami was off and running. That play was started by two blocks by Joel Anthony, who ignited the Heat defense all night.

"He's awesome," Bosh said.

The lead was 49-31 by halftime and 75-52 after the third quarter, in which Philadelphia shot only 33 percent but raised its percentage for the game to 28.

"Our energy tonight was much better," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, "from beginning to end."

James' 27 Boost Miami past Boston, 100-77

MIAMI - If this was a preview of the Eastern Conference semi-finals, then the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics was showed what to expect.

Few pleasantries.

Pushing and shoving.

And maybe a Game 7 in Miami.

LeBron James scored 27 points, Dwyane Wade added 14 and the heat is close to No. 2 seed in the playoffs East on Sunday by beating the Celtics 100-77 sliding.

"It was a playoff-type atmosphere, fans of both teams approach the game that meant," Wade said. "He had that feeling."

Miami moved a game ahead of Boston, trimmed its magic number to clinch the second seed to two. The teams will finish second and third in some order behind Chicago in the East, slotted to play in the conference semifinals.

"We like to play, I can say that," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "And we will need if you want to go somewhere."

Chris Bosh added 13 points and eight rebounds for Miami, which had been 0-3 against Boston this season, while Heat coach Erik Spoelstra warned against exaggerating the importance of winning.

"We've proven we can beat them tonight," Spoelstra said. "That's about it in my mind."

Paul Pierce 24 points and Kevin Garnett added 21 for Boston, which lost 10 once in his last 19 games. The Celtics were outrebounded 42-26 and outscored 44-26 paints.

"What do you expect? The Boston-Miami," said Garnett. "Apparently, they are two, if not the best two teams in the East, expect that you should expect to come here, you will not get the call, their passion was to be expected - ... A team you've beaten three times. "

Heat finally solved the Boston Celtics beat the hex for the third time over the last 21 meetings. Bosh was 1-13 against Boston since March 2007 and the Celtics finished the two seasons from 2009-10 to Wade (first round) and James (second round).

Miami won 13 season maligned - - once in his last 16 games, and its bench outscored Boston 32-12.

"What worked for us today, we played up front together," Wade said.

Ray Allen scored 13 points for the Celtics. Rajon Rondo was held to only seven points and five assists on 3-8 shooting.

"The frustration is high on our team right now," Rivers said.

Miami players were immense.

Mario Chalmers had nine points in the second quarter when the Heat took the lead. Joel Anthony had eight rebounds in the first half, two fewer than the whole list of Boston. Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored guide to start the third heat six was the steering and Anthony used a triple-team James and immersed for a 74-59 lead in the final game of the third quarter.

Of course, it is the heat-Celtics, nothing would come easy in Miami.

An 22, Boston ran 12 straight points, Allen from a set of four points and Pierce adding both a 3-pointer and a set of three points for the Celtics in 85 to 75.

It was the last breath. 04:49 Mike Bibby's 3-pointer on the left, then Bosh followed James' left to lose the lead back to 15

"We built that seems to hold only the guys in front of us, the shots of challenges and fly around defensively," said James.

Boston scored the first game by eight points and hit eight of their first nine shots. The Celtics were making it look easy, especially when Garnett - who had not made a 3-pointer all season - a step in a left wing and connected to a lead of 22-15.

"It looked like the same old song," said Spoelstra.

He did not stay. Boston went without a goal for the next 6:17, and Miami took the lead on the first possession of the second quarter.

Tensions were already high, and emotions soon overwhelmed.

Jermaine O'Neal - who had been easily influenced by James 27 seconds earlier in transformation - tried to stop another drive, the two-time reigning MVP with a shoulder check about 4 minutes in the second, otherwise play ball.

A melee broke out shortly under the curve. O'Neal received a flagrant-1, James has a technique to throw the ball to O'Neal, Wade and Pierce also received technicals for some pushing and shoving, and a small amount of waste flew into the stands on field.

"I thought it was all theater, all the shit. I guess that's tough call in these days," said Rivers. "Two guys run into each other, you have to call an obvious mistake, which I thought was a joke. And I thought the response has been both a joke. "

Bosh got his second technical 2 1 / 2 minutes later, saying he committed a loose ball in Rondo, only to have referees in Boston granted a timeout. But the heat stayed calm, keep throwing the second half, turned his eyes toward the street games in Atlanta on Monday that infest and Wednesday in Toronto.

"It's cool and everything," Bosh said, "but we still have two more games."

Miami Heat Seal Southeast Division Title

Newark, NJ - LeBron James had 31 points and 11 rebounds, and Miami Heat won the Southeast Division title with a 108-94 victory over the New Jersey Nets faced Sunday night.

"We do not want to be exhausted, coach Erik Spoelstra said after the Heat won their first division title since 2007." This is the first step. It is not our ultimate goal. We want to swallow As much as possible. "

Dwyane Wade added 18 points, despite a thigh injury in the first quarter and Chris Bosh had 16 as the Heat won their third in a row and eighth time in nine games.

The victory led Miami (54-23) within 2 1 / 2 games of idle Chicago (56-20) in the race for a place in the Eastern Conference. The heat has five games left, one fewer than the Bulls.

Deron Williams had 18 points and 12 assists to lead the Nets, who have lost six straight and 10 of 11 Travis Outlaw added 17 points and nine rebounds, while Brook Lopez had 16 points.

New Jersey was without leading rebounder Kris Humphries (ankle, heel) and the second straight game, and showed the plates. Miami won 50-30 advantage Erick Dampier grabbing a game-high 14

Miami's biggest concern was the game right thigh Wade. Outlaw Racing in the first quarter and spent the second quarter of changing rooms for treatment of contusion side. He convened the Court after the interval and looked so well after warmups, but he played almost 20 minutes in the second half, scoring nine points.

James was the catalyst for the Heat most of the game. He made 15 points in the first quarter and finished with 13 and 18 from the field and three assists shy of his fifth triple-double of the season.

Miami wasted no time in beating the Nets for the third time in as many games this season, and the seventh in a row overall. The Heat jumped out to lead 17-4, James and Wade will do more damage.

Wade scored six points and had an assist on an ally, PF James, who began a series of nine straight points from James.

The Heat led 26-10 when Wade's 3-pointer, and 32-18 at the end of the quarter by hitting an incredible 3:20 p.m. shots.

The Nets, who shot only 33 percent during the quarter, even within 14 points at halftime before cutting twice the margin of seven points in the third quarter.

The closest was a 83-77 Nets have two free throws by Lopez with 7:44 to go.

However, Bosh hit a jumper from the lane and James Jones hit a 3-pointer to ignite jet 11-2 that put the game away.

Heat Record their 4th with 15-0 Run to Thump Pistons 100-94

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Dwyane Wade scored 24 points and Chris Bosh added 23 to help the Miami Heat rally for a 100-94 win over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.

LeBron James had 19 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for Miami, which has won six of seven following a five-game losing streak.

The Heat trailed by 11 late in the third quarter before Mike Miller made a 3-pointer in the final seconds. Miami then scored the first 15 points of the fourth to take an 88-81 lead.

Detroit had the ball down by four in the final minute, but Greg Monroe missed a layup, forcing the Pistons to foul.

Richard Hamilton led Detroit with 27 points.

Hamilton made back-to-back 3-pointers from the same spot in the left corner late in the third to give the Pistons a 78-70 lead. Mike Bibby appeared to answer with a 3-pointer of his own with the shot clock running out, but the Miami guard's shot ended up being disallowed between quarters.

Detroit led 81-73 after three, but went scoreless until Tracy McGrady made a shot from the top of the key with 6:25 left in the game.

Detroit committed two defensive 3-second violations in the first 1:13 of the fourth, and when James Jones made a 3-pointer and James added a left-handed layup, the Heat had an 82-81 advantage — their first lead since 8-7.

Rodney Stuckey fired up the crowd a bit with a one-handed dunk on a drive through the lane for Detroit, but James did him one better shortly after that, throwing down an emphatic right-handed dunk off a pass from Wade to make it 94-85.
In his previous game at Detroit, James made news by taking a heckler to task early in Miami's win over the Pistons. The focus was on the court this time, and although James wasn't at his best, the Heat had enough offensive balance to pull through once they started shutting down Detroit early in the final quarter.

Bibby made his first start for Miami in his 11th game with the team, scoring five points. The Heat are without guard Mario Chalmers (sprained right knee) and center Zydrunas Ilgauskas (right foot infection).

Miller finished with 13 points for Miami.

Monroe had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Pistons, while Tayshaun Prince added 13 points and Chris Wilcox scored 10.

Bosh scores 30, the Heat roll Spurs 110-80

MIAMI - The Miami Heat was in the inversion symmetry.

Lose 30 San Antonio, winning 30 in Miami.

Chris Bosh scored 30 points and 12 rebounds, Dwyane Wade scored 29 and the Miami Heat avenged their worst loss of the season by rolling over the NBA-leading Spurs 110-80 on Monday night.

"It 's really huge for us, just to get even with this team," said Bosh. "They beat us pretty good, and I'm glad we were able to make a perfect game today. But at the same time is only a game."

LeBron James finished with 21 points, eight assists and six rebounds and the Heat, who have won three straight and moved two games in the Eastern Conference of the pioneers in Boston and Chicago.

Miami lost 125-95 at San Antonio on March 4, the midpoint of a five-game slide that now seems almost forgotten after the victories over the Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, and now the Spurs.

"Sometimes when you get the results we have and who have this extreme noise from the outside, which can be a distraction if you let it," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. "But in terms of types confidence, never wavered. This is a very confident group. But the consistency that we had in the last three games is something we can build."

It was the Spurs' biggest regular-season loss since April 7, 2005, a 104-68 defeat to Dallas.

Tony Parker scored 18 points and Tim Duncan added 14 for the Spurs, who won 15 of their last 18 against Miami. Before Monday, the worst loss in San Antonio this season was a 96-72 defeat to New Orleans.

And he has been instrumental in the scoring column: Miami outrebounded the Spurs 47-33 and shot 54 percent in San Antonio 38.

"We did a lot of shots in San Antonio and have done a lot of shots," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, whose team suffered its third lowest total score is the fifth-worst shooting effort of the season. "What goes around comes around."

According to STATS LLC, is only the second time in NBA history that two clubs had two series win once with 30 or more. The second event came last season as Dallas beat New York 50 to Madison Square Garden, then lost at home to the Knicks with 34 nearly two months later.

Add San Antonio 123-101 loss to Orlando on Dec. 23, and the Spurs two trips to the Sunshine State this season were the losses by a combined 52 points.

Mario Chalmers scored 11 for Miami. Manu Ginobili finished with 12 and Antonio McDyess scored 10 for the Spurs.

"They needed the game more than us," said Ginobili. "They were more shocked than us, and are a good team. We're not playing for second division in Asia. We're talking about the Heat."

When the teams met a week and a half ago, it was more after one quarter. San Antonio ran an advance of 36-12, eight 3-pointers in the first quarter alone en route to a franchise-record 17 connections beyond the arc.

Funny how things even out: In Miami, the Spurs were able to get very little out of the paint in the fall. They finished 6 for 22, 3.

San Antonio shot just 6 of 25 from the field in the first half, 1 of 9 in the second quarter and the Heat held the Spurs to their fourth lowest output during the first 24 minutes of a game this season. The driver of the Heat was 49-39 at halftime, with Bosh and Wade combined for 31 points and 12 rebounds along the road.

Meanwhile, Duncan and remove McDyess - 9 and 13 combined in the middle - and the Spurs were downright devastating offensive. Together, their comrades fired nine of 33 in the first two quarters.

"They definitely had a lot of energy," Parker said the heat. "But all in all, they just played better than us."

The Spurs are things going in the third, particularly Parker, who hit June 5 shots and scored 14 in the period.

But the result was never in doubt. Wade took James for a dunk with 10:14 left, then uttered a joyous cry the way back to the other end. It was a cry of longer duration 17 seconds later, after stealing the ball to Steve Novak and calls for a dunk of his own that led to Miami 87-67 edge.

LeBron Gets 41 – Heat Tops Pacers 117-112

MIAMI - With LeBron James on the bench, the Pacers took control quickly.

Unfortunately for them, he returned.

Reigning league MVP, twice had 41 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, Chris Bosh added 19 points and the Miami Heat rallied to 14-point deficit to beat Indiana Pacers 117-112 Tuesday night for their seventh straight victory.

Miami held Indiana to 28 percent shooting quarter, giving up just 15 points, while in 1997 the first three periods, and so Mario Chalmers effect Dahntay Jones will be a key for 5 seconds violated 8.9 seconds remaining.

James took care of everything else, and moved to Miami a half game of idle best record in the Eastern Conference in Boston.

"We realized in the fourth quarter," James said. "Held them to 15 points, and we executed."
In his last 20 games, averaging 29.6 points by James, 8.6 rebounds and 7.5 assists. It is no coincidence that the Heat are 17 to 3 in the contest.

"I'll tell you who plays basketball and MVP both ends of the court," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. "I had an engine that no fatigue at night. It was incredible."

James scored 26 points in the first half, sending a dunk through the net and accidentally head Dwyane Wade - "My bad," James said later - and then spend a tear in the last 2 minutes where he transformed what was a 66-52 deficit into a 66-63 game at halftime.

James goes on the attack - behind Danny Granger for a dunk in transition, gushing from the top post and take a pass from Chalmers for a second, so converting a layup as he was moving polluted .

"We would have been up 40 if it were not for him," said Granger. "He was unconscious."
In the end, Miami needed all his heroism.

"The best player in the world was at his best in their building," said Pacers interim coach Frank Vogel, who fell to 4-1 since taking over the sideline Indiana. "It 's hard to beat."

Wade scored 17 and Chalmers added 16 for Miami, who moved five games before the second place in Atlanta, the Southeast Division.

"You do not have to be great every night," Wade said. "We must find a way to help your club win, and we were able to do so."

Roy Hibbert scored 20 points and added 10 rebounds for Indiana. Granger scored 19 and Tyler Hansbrough added 18 for the Pacers.

Indiana's best chance 60 percent less than a point in the second half, and was at 57 percent entering the final quarter. But the Pacers shot 5 for 18 in the fourth, including a section brought to life the terrible heat.

Indiana lost nine straight shots to span nearly 6 1 / 2 minutes, but the position of Granger is 51.9 seconds remaining - the end of a drought - the Pacers got within 111-110.
They needed a stop and could not offer.

Mike Miller missed a 3-pointer, but Bosh grabbed an offensive rebound to extend detention and James at the end of winding connection of 17 feet with 14.1 seconds to play a lead of 113-110 heat.

"A shootout for three quarters, both teams scored the ball, playing in obvious ... and scoring with relative ease," said Spoelstra. "Finally, we made a stand in the fourth quarter."

Darren Collison scored 15 points, Josh McRoberts added 12 and Jones scored 11 of Indiana, who tried to get to Boston and Dallas team that has beaten twice this season in Miami.

Heat has spoken to both Monday and Tuesday pre-game seeking to avenge the 93-77 loss at home to the Pacers on Nov. 22. It was easily his worst defeat of the season - look at the margin of 16 points in this game have exceeded the margin of 13 points from their four other total loss to Miami.

The words do not translate in games. At least for much of the night does not mean they do not.
With James on the ground in the first two quarters, Miami dominated Indiana with 11 Without him, the heat has outperformed by 14 - and it happened quickly.

James just had a break in the first half, 3 minutes, 35 seconds rest early in the second quarter. New York and Miami dominated 18-4 in that stretch to turn a 33-29 deficit into a 45-37 lead when James came back in the game.

It was not until 4:34 remained in the room of Miami to return to the top, comes when Erick Dampier hit the back of Miss Wade by a border of 106 to 105 - the first conductor of heat from opening two minutes of the second quarter.

Pacers did not lead again.

"If we want the size, fit together," said Spoelstra. "And we're not there yet."

James Scores Season High 51 Points as Heat Slip by Magic

Orlando, Florida - LeBron James had 51 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, as the 23-point lead in the first quarter Miami 104-100 victory at Orlando on Thursday night.

It was a season high of James, whose scoring effort associated with the fifth best score of his career.

The heat has operated a fine line missing injured starting Magic forward Brandon Bass. It took less than 23 points. Dwyane Wade added 15 points and Chris Bosh 13.

Jameer Nelson led Orlando with 22 points. Dwight Howard had 17 points and 16 rebounds, but only one point after the break and was only 3 to 13 at the free throw line. Jason Richardson chipped in 16 race victory was the fourth straight. Magic lost for the fourth time in their last six season series 2-1 and lost to Miami.

The Heat led by 16 entering the final period and 90-69 before the Magic went 19-4 run, capped by Gilbert Arenas' 3-pointer cut the lead to 94-88 with 1:51 left in the game.

But James responded with his own Trey with the clock winds down to give Miami a 97-88 cushion.

Missed 3-pointer by Richardson at the other end was deflected by James, who was fouled and hit one of two free throws. Another 3 by Richardson narrowed the gap to 98-91 with 51.1 seconds left.

Nelson hit a jumper to cut to 98-93, then 99-95 with a pair of free throws with 22.5 to play.
After a couple of free throws by James to make it 103-97, Nelson hit a 3 point with 9.4 seconds left. The Heat lost the ball in the game that followed the tracks, but the Magic could not draw on their next possession. Wade hit a free throw to provide the final margin.

Heat led 55-45 at halftime as James magic defense picked it apart with a combination of midrange jumpers and runners in the lane.

He hit his shots from a November night and finished the half 29 points. His fast start helped Miami to shoot bubbles 58 percent in the opening 24 minutes.

Howard had 16 points and Turkoglu 11 to help keep the magic of striking distance, as James teammates combined for only 26 points. Bosh scored nine points in the first half, Wade scored five points, but it was November 4 terminals in the field.

James started his scoring spree in the opening 12 minutes straight at Türkoğlu Earl Clark and later when he came off the bench.

He had 23 points in the period, reaching nine of his shots on goal in the field and is June 5 at the free throw line as the Heat was ahead 30-26 in the second quarter.

James' 23 points in the first quarter broke Alonzo Mourning, the Heat scoring 21 points in the book, which established in 1996.

Magic did not help their hairline in front of everyone, getting into foul trouble first.

Howard took only 17 seconds to collect his first whistle of the night and was a bit shy on the inside of the defensive the rest of the period. Ryan Anderson were also hands a little too active when he was forced to the bench after picking up his second foul at the 10:07 mark.

LeBron James, Heat add to Cleveland's woes, 117-90

Once more, LeBron James helped the Cleveland Cavaliers reach a milestone in the NBA standings.

First to 40 wins one year.

First to 40 losses the next.

Dwyane Wade scored 26 of his 34 points in the first half, James finished with 24 points and eight assists and the Miami Heat beat the Cavaliers for the third time since the two-time MVP changed cities, winning 117-90 Monday night to hand Cleveland its 21st straight loss — as many as it dropped in the entire 2009-10 regular season.

Cleveland (8-40) is now two losses shy of tying the single-season NBA futility streak record shared by the 1995-96 Vancouver Grizzlies and 1997-98 Denver Nuggets. Overall, the Cavaliers have lost 31 of 32 games, along with 24 straight on the road.

"I have nothing bad to say about the players that I left and the team," James said. "I wish the organization the best. And I wish the fans, more than anything, the best because we had a lot of great years together."

They might be hard-pressed to remember those now.

This game had a few moments of hope for the Cavaliers. They were down by 19 in the first half, when Wade was almost unguardable for stretches — one of his dunks, off a pass from James, was so spectacular that rap moguls Sean "Diddy" Combs and Rick Ross leaped from their courtside seats.

Quietly, Cleveland started putting together good stretch after good stretch, getting within 70-67 in the third quarter.

Was this going to be the night?

Not a chance.

James had nine points in a 19-5 run to close the third quarter, Miami's lead was 89-72 entering the fourth, and it turned into a romp from there.

"We played pretty good in the third quarter," Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said. "I thought they just took it to another gear. They've got the type of team that can do that."

The Heat (34-14) moved within 2 1/2 games of Boston for the best record in the Eastern Conference. Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 12 points and a season-high 14 rebounds against his former team, Eddie House also scored 12 and Chris Bosh added 10 points for Miami.

For Cleveland, Antawn Jamison finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Manny Harris scored 20 points and J.J. Hickson added 14. The Cavaliers were outrebounded 49-39.

"They are a good team and they've got some players who can make plays," Cleveland's Anthony Parker said, "even if you do everything right."

James insisted he bears no ill will against his first NBA team, and as if to underscore that, he pulled Harris aside for some postgame words of encouragement.

"I think he's a very talented young player," James said. "And I just told him no matter what's going on with the team, he has to continue to play well. He has to continue to stay aggressive, have his confidence."

Said Harris: "Coming from a player like him and his caliber it means a lot. Everything he said was right."

Wade hit 10 of his first 12 shots, the third straight game for him with a sizzling start. James had 15 in the first half, including a highlight-caliber dunk over Christian Eyenga and Hickson that gave Miami a 61-44 lead.

And although it was a one-possession game midway through the third quarter, the outcome never truly seemed in doubt.

"We had great respect for Cleveland tonight," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Sometimes it can happen very quickly like that. That's why we talk about the habits. A game can change in three minutes. In a playoff series, that can be all it takes."

Cleveland's franchise — which reached great heights with James for seven years, and has fallen to the bottom of the NBA less than seven months after he left — already owns the all-time NBA losing-streak record, a 24-game slide that spanned from March to November 1982.

Sports Authority Review: MVP of the Heat?

D-Wade returns, the Heat win. LeBron sits, the Heat lose. So who’s more valuable to Miami, LeBron or D-Wade?

Steve Aschburner:

Miami Heat fans get pretty upset, and Cleveland Cavaliers fans don’t much appreciate it either, but LeBron James clearly is the more valuable of these two. He already has won two MVPs in seven seasons and, in switching teams, has had huge impacts on both the Heat and the Cavs this season. Dwyane Wade is an All-Star, maybe a future Hall of Famer, but he has finished in the top five of MVP balloting only twice. His absence in training camp and the Heat’s struggle was all about learning, not needing to be rescued by an MVP. And look, this is coming from a Marquette alum.

Fran Blinebury:

It’s not a cop-out to say none of the above. The whole reason they came together is that neither was capable of carrying a team and winning a championship on his own. Then again, neither was Kobe before he got Pau. So now Wade and James are both each other’s Pau (and pal) and it’s the combustible combination that gives them the explosive power to win it all.

Art Garcia:

Don’t think you can tell much from a one-game sample, but it’s clear that both of these guys are critical to the Heat’s success. They’re not going to go far without either one for long stretches because this team just isn’t very deep. And you might as well throw Chris Bosh into the mix since Miami lost Wednesday night without its favorite lefty. If I had to pick one, I’d go D-Wade. No wait, LeBron. Ask me again next week.

Scott Howard-Cooper:

That’s an impossible tie to break. LeBron is slightly better as a player, but Wade has the longevity in Miami, and a ring, unlike some people, and is more of a stabilizing factor than James. Wade is also unmatched as a recruiter. None of this happens without D-Wade.

Shaun Powell:

I call it a push. A LeBron-only team doesn’t make Miami any more or less dangerous than a Wade-only team. I think both players would face the same issues and challenges because they’re similar players with similar styles. But I believe we know which player is more valuable from a PR standpoint.

John Schuhmann: Statistically, it’s been LeBron, who has a better plus-minus (raw and per-minute) thus far. He’s the more complete player and asked to do more in the Miami offense. But obviously, the Heat need both of them if they’re going to have a shot against the league’s best teams. And it will be how well they play together that determines how far they go in the postseason.

Sekou Smith:

This is a trick question. More valuable to the Heat? They can’t win the way they want or expect to without them both healthy and playing their best, particularly in the postseason. That said, as critical as Wade has always been to the Heat’s fortunes, he simply doesn’t impact the game in as many ways as LeBron can. James takes decent role players and makes them a 60-win team. Wade with the same role players produces a 45-win team.

Bosh out, James starts Against Hawks

MIAMI – When LeBron James arrived for a shootaround practice Tuesday morning, his sprained left ankle was still sore and swollen.

By game time, the NBA's two-time reigning MVP was good to go.

James started for Miami on Tuesday against the Atlanta Hawks, ending an absence where the Heat lost games in Denver and Chicago with him sidelined. The Heat, however, were without forward Chris Bosh, who sprained his left ankle in the Chicago loss.

"We do have versatility on the roster," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "This is probably the time it'll show the most, playing guys that weren't necessarily playing big minutes, they'll be able to step up and have their opportunity."

Joel Anthony started at power forward in place of Bosh, who was ruled out early Tuesday.

James missed his customary pregame media session Tuesday, getting even more treatment. The determination was made about 45 minutes before tip-off that he would start.

James, Bosh and Dwyane Wade — Miami's Big 3 — all missed practice Monday as well. Wade has a sore left knee, courtesy of a collision with the Bulls' Kurt Thomas in the Chicago loss on Saturday, and was still battling some swelling on Tuesday, but sitting out was never an option.

"No matter who's on the floor ... we've got to find a way to get a win versus one of the hottest teams in the league," Wade said.

Spoelstra said he had five different lineup cards ready, depending on whether or not James would play. It was turning into a chess game of sorts; Hawks coach Larry Drew said he was waiting on his lineup decision until seeing who Miami had available.

The Hawks aren't perfectly healthy either. Forward Marvin Williams missed his ninth straight game with a lower back injury.

After Tuesday, the Heat do not play again until hosting Toronto on Saturday, giving Bosh plenty of time to heal.

Bosh was hurt with 30.7 seconds left in the third quarter in Chicago, going for the ball while the Bulls' Omer Asik dove for it as well. Asik rolled into Bosh's lower leg, and the Heat forward immediately grabbed at his left shin in obvious pain — and the way he tumbled prompted fears that the injury could be bad.

"He's making progress," Spoelstra said. "He's moving around better today. Certainly not ready to run and explode off of it, but if you saw the footage, the replay of it, we're just thankful it's minor at this point."

LeBron James Power Heat to 96-82 Victory over Bobcats

LeBron James scored 38 points, Dwyane Wade added 31 and the Miami Heat dominated the second half to beat the short-handed Charlotte Bobcats 96-82 on Monday night for their 11th straight road win.

Playing for the first time against Paul Silas, his first NBA coach in Cleveland, James scored 26 of his points in the second half and added nine rebounds. Wade grabbed 11 boards in Miami's 18th win in 19 games.

Charlotte played without starting forward Gerald Wallace (ankle) and center Nazr Mohammed (knee) the same day tests revealed backup big man DeSagana Diop is lost for the season with a ruptured Achilles' tendon.

With Kwame Brown the only healthy center, the Bobcats fell apart offensively, missing 18 straight shots bridging the second and third quarters.

Stephen Jackson scored 22 points and D.J. Augustin added 16 for the Bobcats, who shot 38 percent from the field with 15 turnovers.

It was a day of awards for the Heat, with James and Wade sharing the Eastern Conference player of the month award, Wade named the East's player of the week and Erik Spoelstra picking up the coach of the month honor.

After worrying before the game that his players might get complacent amid their hot streak, Spoelstra had some concerns early in his 200th game on the bench.

Charlotte, one of the league's worst offensive teams, shot 63 percent in the first quarter behind Jackson's 12 points. The Bobcats led by seven in the second and went up 41-35 on Gerald Henderson's hoop with 4:05 left.

But Miami clamped down defensively and by the time the Bobcats got another shot to fall — Augustin's 3-pointer with 5:30 left in the third — Miami led 61-51.

James later made four straight shots as the lead ballooned to 78-59 heading into the fourth.
After the Bobcats cut the deficit to 80-69, James beat the shot clock by swishing a 30-footer along the left baseline while double teamed. He then stole a pass and went in for a reverse dunk on the next possession and Miami had locked up matching the second-longest road winning streak in franchise history.

James, whose Cavaliers lost here twice last season, revealed before the game players refer to themselves as the "Heatles" as they played in front of a rare sellout crowd in Charlotte.
"Off of the Beatles," James said. "Every time we take our show on the road, we bring a great crowd out."

This time, James took out his former coach, whom he credited for "learning how to be a professional on and off the court" as a rookie and second-year player in Cleveland.

Silas, who dropped to 2-2 since replacing the fired Larry Brown, had little to work with against a dominant team on a roll as owner Michael Jordan watched courtside.

Wallace was back on the shelf after playing in two games following a five-game absence for a sprained left ankle. The 2010 All-Star, who also has a bone bruise, aggravated the injury in practice on Sunday and Silas said he'll be out "a few games."

Mohammed was scratched about an hour before the game with a bruised right knee, and the Bobcats were outrebounded 46-35 in their second straight loss.

Joel Anthony had 11 rebounds in Miami's sixth straight win to help offset an off night from Chris Bosh, who had 11 points and four rebounds on 4-of-9 shooting.

Nine is not Enough: The Heat Won Their 10th Straight Game Over Cavs

LeBron James had few words for his former Cleveland teammates this time.

Dwyane Wade did more than enough talking with his play.

Wade scored 17 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, James added 21 points and a season-high 13 rebounds, and the Miami Heat won their 10th straight game, holding off the Cavaliers 101-95 on Wednesday night.

"It was a good game," James said. "We executed enough plays down the stretch to help us win. Gut-check? I don't ever think it got to a gut-check point ... but for us, we're happy that we continued to win and we continued to get better."

The star duo was silent in on-court words, perhaps, but not in actions. James flexed his arms after getting fouled and scoring on a drive to the basket, Wade did his arms-flailing, "George Jefferson" celebration again, then looked down and screamed at his right hand after hitting a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter.

But those moments of joy aside, this one wasn't easy.

Far from it, as James' former team - which got rolled by 28 in Cleveland on Dec. 2 in the clubs' first meeting of the season - gave Miami all it wanted this time around.

"We got the win, we won 10 straight and that ultimately is the most important thing. I get it, OK?" Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "But we also want to make sure that the process that we've been talking about, whether we lost or whether we won, that we're playing to our potential. Cleveland played very well tonight and I do want to give them credit. They competed."

Chris Bosh scored 16 points for Miami, Mario Chalmers had 14 and James Jones added 11.

Miami failed in its quest to be the fourth NBA team ever to win 10 straight games by at least 10 points. Still, the 10-game winning streak - by any margin - matched the fourth-longest in Heat history. The try for No. 11 comes Friday night in New York against the Knicks.

"I've never won 10 games in a row," Bosh said. "So I'm happy."

Daniel Gibson scored 26 points for Cleveland, which lost its ninth straight. Anderson Varejao had 18 points and 15 rebounds, Antawn Jamison scored 15 points and Mo Williams added 13 for the Cavs.

"I couldn't ask for them to play any harder than they played," Cavs coach Byron Scott said. "I thought they were terrific effort-wise. They competed for 48 minutes."

Emotions were nowhere near as high as they were when James appeared in Cleveland for the first time as an opponent on Dec. 2, though there was some tension. At least one skirmish broke out in the stands - a rare occurrence in Miami - during the fourth quarter as Miami pulled away.

On the court, there was some flareups as well. Gibson wrapped up James on a fast break in the fourth quarter, the two friends not exchanging a word. And in the opening minutes, Wade was tackled by Joey Graham while dunking after an assist from James.

Still, this one was nothing like the hyped-for-months matchup in Cleveland two weeks ago that turned into a blowout.

"We had fight in us," Bosh said. "They had fight, too. We just grinded the game out."
Miami's 14-point lead was down to six when Gibson hit a 3-pointer with 2:09 left, and Jamison's free throws 36 seconds later made it 96-93.

That was Cleveland's last gasp. Gibson missed a 3-pointer over James with 46 seconds left, Williams missed a long try from the left side with 17 ticks remaining - he finished 1 for 10 from beyond the arc - and Miami escaped.

The mood when the players took the floor was noticably different than the game in Cleveland, when both James and members of the team he left behind were criticized for being, at times, a little too chummy with one another.

Miami turns up Heat to Thrash Hornets 96 – 84 for Ninth Straight Win

The red-hot Miami Heat used an 18-2 second-half run to blow past the New Orleans Hornets 96-84 on Monday for their ninth straight victory.

Dwyane Wade scored 32 points, including the final six of Miami's second-half explosion that gave the Heat a commanding 94-77 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

Chris Bosh had 23 points and 11 rebounds while LeBron James finished with 20 points as the "Big Three" continued to find their form during a dominant stretch for Miami (18-8).

Miami lost to New Orleans in their last meeting on Nov 5, but the teams have gone in opposite directions since then with the Hornets (14-10) losing nine of their last 12 following a surprising 11-1 start to the season.

David West put up 26 points and 12 rebounds for New Orleans, which kept the game close until the Heat raced away with the contest beginning late in the third quarter.

The Heat Is Finally On: LeBron Scores 33, Heat Bang Jazz for 6th Straight

SALT LAKE CITY – LeBron James scored 33 points, Dwyane Wade added 28 and the surging Miami Heat outscored the Utah Jazz by 14 in the fourth quarter for a 111-98 victory Wednesday night.

The victory extended Miami's winning streak to six, and avenged a 116-114 overtime loss to Utah at home on Nov. 9. The Heat improved to 15-8, while Utah fell to 16-7.

Al Jefferson scored 25 points and all five Jazz starters were in double figures by the start of the fourth. But it wasn't enough as the Heat pulled away with a 12-3 run to start the quarter.

Miami led by as many as 12, but the Heat found themselves trailing 78-77 entering the fourth after the Jazz mounted yet another rally. Last month, they came back from a 22-point deficit to beat the Heat.

In that game, Paul Millsap scored a career-high 46 for Utah. This time, he got going late and finished with 18 points on 9-of-12 shooting. Deron Williams had 21 for Utah but only four in the first half.

The loss continued an up-and-down season for the Jazz, who were riding a seven-game winning streak last week but lost Friday to Dallas.

Against the Heat, Millsap tried to spark the Jazz again. He grabbed the rebound off James Jones' miss and raced the length of the court for a layup at the buzzer to pull the Jazz within 28-27 to end the first quarter.

The Heat led by as many as 10 again in the second as Wade scored eight points in a 3-minute span, and James' driving layup with 4:27 left made it 49-39.

A three-point play by Andrei Kirilenko pulled the Jazz to 66-64 with 6:18 left in the third. Williams then passed underneath to Kirilenko for a dunk to tie it at 72 with 4:14 left, and Raja Bell put Utah ahead with a pair of free throws.

But the fourth quarter was all Miami, as the Heat outscored the Jazz 34-20.
Utah had held its last 10 opponents under 100 points, and the Jazz were 10-0 when entering the fourth with a lead.

Bosh made 27 points - Heat outdoes Hawks

MIAMI – LeBron James' new fan base in Miami had a response.
So did his teammates.

Chris Bosh scored 27 points, Dwyane Wade added 26 and the Miami Heat scored 11 straight points in the final minutes to beat the Atlanta Hawks 89-77 on Saturday night — winning their fourth straight to move a season-high five games over .500.

"It's just a better feel in the locker room, away from the game, but also on the basketball court," Wade said. "We're starting to 'get it' with each other. ... It's making a world of difference."

James was quiet offensively for much of the second half, and it didn't matter. He finished with 22 points, and got serenaded by "Miami loves you!" chants — a nod to the "Akron hates you!" cries James heard when Miami visited Cleveland for the first time since he scorned the Cavaliers and joined the Heat in July.

Wade and Bosh did their part to keep the Hawks at bay, and then the reigning two-time MVP got his first field goal of the second half with 2:52 remaining — a fierce slam, followed by a scream, all giving Miami an 81-72 lead. Mario Chalmers hit an off-balance jumper with 1:38 left, the lead was back to 11, and Miami survived.

"We're figuring it out," James said. "We're figuring out what it takes for us three to be successful, and to have the team win."

Wade and Bosh each had 10 rebounds for the Heat (13-8), whose lead was cut to two at 74-72 with 4:39 remaining. Atlanta then missed its next six shots and Miami ran away.

"They're a tough team," Hawks coach Larry Drew said. "Anytime you have three guys that can potentially be 20-plus every night, you got your hands full."

Only a week ago, the Heat were reeling, calling a 40-minute players-only meeting after a loss in Dallas sent a team with championship aspirations to 9-8.

Four straight wins later, that all seems a distant memory.

The Return of the KING

CLEVELAND – He tuned out the boos. He smiled at the derisive chants. He embraced all the negativity Cleveland could muster.

LeBron James wasn't fazed by anything.

He brought his talents back home and reminded everyone — even the haters — why he's missed.

Returning as a villain to his native state and the city he scorned this summer, James scored 38 points — 24 in a virtuoso third-quarter performance — to lead the Miami Heat to a 118-90 win on Thursday night, turning his hostile homecoming into another embarrassing moment for the Cavaliers.

By halftime, James was the one having fun. By the fourth quarter, he was watching from the bench as Cavs fans headed into the cold for a disappointing drive home.

This wasn't the payback they waited five months to inflict.

James simply wouldn't allow it.

As he did so many times during seven seasons for the Cavs, the two-time league MVP did anything he wanted on the floor. In the third quarter, he made 10-of-12 shots, jumpers from every angle and taunted Cleveland's bench after draining a seemingly impossible baseline jumper.

"I know this court. I've made a lot of shots on this court," he said. "Just wanted to be aggressive, just try to keep them out of the game. I knew they were going to try to make a run in the third quarter, but we were able to get stops and we were able to get some shots."

With security guards forming a human barricade to line his entrance, James came hopping out of the tunnel and into the electrically charged atmosphere inside Quicken Loans Arena, as more than 20,000 fans, the same ones who once adored him, turned their fury on James.

It was rowdy, but thankfully, not violent. There were a few minor incidents in the stands.

Just in case, Moondog, the Cavs' fuzzy mascot, wore a bulletproof vest.

Booed every time he touched the ball, James scored 14 points in the first half as the Heat opened a 59-40 lead, and threatened to turn the highly anticipated game into a blowout.
James quickly made certain of one.

Miami outscored Cleveland 36-25 in the third to open a 95-65 lead, prompting Heat coach Erik Spoelstra to pull his superstar. James spent the final 12 minutes as a spectator, glancing at the scoreboard and into the stands at so many familiar faces.

James remained defiant afterward, saying he didn't regret his decision to leave Cleveland.

James, Wade led Heat over Wizards 105-94

LeBron James and Erik Spoelstra had a pregame meeting Monday afternoon to talk about Miami's offensive woes.

Early returns suggest it was a productive chat.

James scored 30 points, Dwyane Wade added 26 and the Heat beat Washington 105-94 on Monday night, keeping the Wizards winless away from home this season.

James had 20 of his points in the first half, Wade added 15 in the third quarter, and though it didn't get into a blowout until the fourth quarter — it's the fifth time already this season where the Wizards have lost by double digits — it was comfortable for Miami throughout.

The Heat topped 100 points for the first time in their past seven games, and led by as many as 22 on the way to just their second win in their past six games.

And for Spoelstra, it was a milestone, his 100th regular-season victory, coming in career game No. 182.

Andray Blatche scored 26 for Washington, which is 0-8 on the road. Gilbert Arenas added 23 for the Wizards, who lost to the Heat for the eighth time in the teams' past nine meetings.

Nick Young scored 13 and JaVale McGee finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds for Washington.

The Wizards were without No. 1 draft pick John Wall, who missed his second straight game with a bruised right knee, and went largely with a seven-man rotation for much of the night. Washington was also again without Al Thornton (ankle) and Yi Jianlian (knee).

Miami's lead was only 55-49 with 10:31 left in the third quarter, before Wade — who has been slumping — got his scoring touch back.

He did it in a hurry, too.

Wade scored 15 points in the quarter, matching a Heat season best for any quarter this season, and needed only 6:17 to get that done. Consecutive jumpers 27 seconds apart, both set up by James, got him started, and he went on the attack the rest of the quarter — getting all 11 of his remaining points either at the foul line or on driving layups.

His personal spurt ended with 3:17 left in the period, when Wade split defenders on a spin move, got fouled, made a layup from the left side and hit the free throw for a 76-63 lead.
From there, things got chippy.

Washington's Hilton Armstrong and Miami's Juwan Howard were ejected with 32.3 seconds left in the third. Armstrong flagrantly fouled Heat center Joel Anthony on a layup attempt, pushing him with both hands in what was deemed a flagrant-2 infraction. Howard's night ended after referee Bill Kennedy saw he had pushed Armstrong in the back while coming to Anthony's defense.

The Wizards' Kirk Hinrich and Miami's James Jones were called for double technicals after getting in each other's faces with 8:20 left to play, and Washington's Trevor Booker was called for a flagrant-1 about 5 minutes later.

James made 6 of his 9 shots in the first half, and then started 2 for 7 following the break before hitting a 3-pointer with 2:32 remaining for a 103-83 lead.

Obama on Heat: 'It takes some time'

ORLANDO, Fla. – Miami's slower-than-expected start is a talking point around the NBA. Around the White House, too.

And the nation's First Fan says the Heat will need time to reach their best.

President Barack Obama — who wasn't thrilled that LeBron James and Dwyane Wade turned down the Chicago Bulls this summer — told ABC's Barbara Walters that when it comes to the Heat, it would be prudent for fans to be patient.

"It takes some time for the team to come together," Obama said. "There's no 'I' in team. So no matter how good a player is, no matter how good a group of players are, if they haven't played together before they are not going to be as good as a team that has played together a long time."

The Heat dropped to 8-7 with a 104-95 loss in Orlando on Wednesday

Bosh’s season-high 35 lift Heat past Suns, 123-96

Bosh scored a season-high 35 points before sitting out the fourth quarter, LeBron James finished with 20 points and the Miami Heat ran away from the Suns 123-96 on Wednesday.
“We’re smart,” Bosh said. “And we know how to play the correct way.”

Dwyane Wade(notes) added 17 points, six rebounds and six assists for Miami, which used two big runs—a 24-9 spurt to end the first half, followed by an 18-3 flurry that closed the third quarter—to snap the Suns’ three-game winning streak. James also had nine assists and eight boards, but deferred afterward to Bosh’s breakout night.

“I think he was due—well overdue—for one of these games,” James said.

Eddie House scored 15 points and Carlos Arroyo added 10 for Miami, which enjoyed its biggest win over Phoenix in nearly 14 years and held Suns point guard Steve Nash to an uncharacteristically low two assists.

“Well, we weren’t necessarily expecting that result,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We just wanted to focus on our game, our energy and really having a defensive edge to us again. That’s one of the most challenging teams to defend.”

The top criticisms of the Heat this season, in no particular order, had been how they struggled against big-time point guards, how they couldn’t seem to put teams away and that Bosh’s numbers had taken a hit as he adjusted to his new role in Miami.

None of those issues were issues against the Suns.

“They just outplayed us the entire game,” Nash said. “We only have ourselves to blame. We didn’t play hard. We didn’t play with enough aggressiveness or urgency and I think it showed.”

Slowed by a sore groin, Nash scored 17 points for Phoenix. But the last time he had only two assists was Dec. 29, 2008, against Oklahoma City, 141 games ago. And Wednesday marked only the ninth time in 737 games where Nash played at least 29 minutes and failed to get more than two assists, according to STATS LLC.

“I kind of took a little risk,” said Nash, who may consider sitting out Thursday in Orlando. “It didn’t feel great, but I don’t think I did serious damage to it.”

Controlling Nash, who came in averaging 12 assists in his last five games, was a huge point of emphasis for the Heat. In Miami’s four losses this season, opposing point guards—Rajon Rondo twice, Deron Williams and Chris Paul — averaged 16.5 assists per game.

Grant Hill scored 15 for Phoenix, which also got 14 from Channing Frye , 11 from Jason Richardson and Goran Dragic , and 10 from Hedo Turkoglu . The Suns were outrebounded 42-32.

Bosh started quickly—not a surprise given his recent history against Phoenix.

“When CB comes out as aggressive as he was, I think that helps us a lot,” James said.

He hit his first four shots and had 14 points by the time the game was 9 minutes old. He has topped 30 points in three of his last six meetings with Phoenix—yet oddly, hadn’t been part of a win over the Suns since Feb. 10, 2004.

By the time Bosh went to the bench for the evening, snapping that streak was certain.
“We just never came close to guarding Bosh tonight,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said.

Miami wasted a 22-point home lead at home against Utah last week, and for a moment in the third quarter, the Heat seemed on the brink of blowing another huge edge. Phoenix frustrated Miami briefly with zone defense and Nash’s finger-roll with 3:14 left in the third cut what had been a 25-point Miami edge minutes earlier to 82-70.

Some anxiety pulsed through the building.

No need.

“We didn’t panic,” Bosh said. “We didn’t get out of place or anything. We just continued to play solid basketball.”

Bosh scored the game’s next seven points, kickstarting a run that put things away for Miami.
Reserve House hit a 3-pointer with 35 seconds left to get the lead back to 24, and Wade had a spectacular three-point play—defensive rebound at one end, drive downcourt, finger-roll layup while getting fouled and then highstepping past photographers—to make it 100-73 entering the fourth.

Need a Resuscitator?

Chris Bosh has shrunken from a center to a power forward to a small forward in just a matter of weeks, and at this rate, will soon be able to look Muggsy Bogues in the kneecaps.
Erik Spoelstra doesn't have the guts, or the resume, to tell the Big Three what to do, or how to do it.

LeBron James left his better talents (as in teammates) in Cleveland.

Dwyane Wade prefers Robin to LeBron's Batman and it's hurting his swag.

Pat Riley is now busy rummaging through his closet, searching for an Armani that'll look good on the bench.

Leave anything out? Have we covered all or most of the issues preventing the Heat, to paraphrase the LeBron commercial, from being who you want them to be?

Everything we just mentioned as a degree of merit to it here in mid-November, a time for panic in Miami, . Bosh is looking softer than your grandmother's touch, averaging six rebounds and appearing timid and afraid. You can't imagine Spoelstra ripping into his team, let alone his best players.

LeBron doesn't have an Anderson Varejao or Mo Williams on the Heat. Wade is terribly inconsistent as he plays the "my turn, your turn" game with LeBron. (We're just kidding about Riley mulling a return, but check back next month if Miami's staring at .500 in the standings.)

Everybody's overreacting, to a degree. The season's too early to draw any concrete conclusions about Miami. But there's one very legitimate concern that won't flare up until spring, when the Miami season matters most, and it is this:

Will the grind of doing-it-all eventually wear down LeBron and Wade, just in time for the playoffs?

It's not just the minutes, which LeBron alluded to a few days ago (and as you might expect, the public took his comments as a swipe toward Spoelstra). It's the multi-tasking. LeBron is playing nearly 38 minutes a night, 35 for Wade, which is normal for them, but heightened once you factor in the stress of playing almost every position on the floor and defending the other team's best players. Because there's such a massive gap between the talent level of LeBron/Wade and everyone else, Miami is leaning heavily on two players to do it all. Big minutes, plus big responsibility, equals lots of tread wear.