Miami Heat ease past Indiana Pacers despite season-low 13 points from LeBron James; LA Lakers move into play-off places with 90-81 victory over Chicago Bulls
Mario Chalmers scored 26 points and Chris Bosh added 24 as the *Miami Heat* won their 18th straight game, easily beating the *Indiana Pacers* 105-91 on Sunday night.
The 18-game streak equals the seventh longest in NBA history, and is the league's best since the Boston Celtics won 19 straight during the 2008-09 season. Miami will try for No. 19 when it hosts Atlanta on Tuesday night.
Dwyane Wade scored 23 points for the Heat, who controlled the game despite a season-low 13 points from LeBron James.
David West scored 17 of his 24 points in the first half for the Pacers, who fell nine games behind Miami in the Eastern Conference standings.
In other matches, the Raptors had a 100-96 win over the Cavaliers, the Lakers beat the Bulls 90-81, the Thunder had a 91-79 win over the Celtics, and the Magic defeated he 76ers 99-91.
At Los Angeles, Dwight Howard scored 16 points and grabbed 21 rebounds and Kobe Bryant chipped in with 19 points, nine assists and seven rebounds for the Lakers, who moved into sole possession of the No. 8 and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with a 90-81 win over Chicago.
Ryan Anderson capped a 20-point performance with a layup as he was fouled with 1.8 seconds left as the Hornets ended a three-game skid with a 98-96 win over the Trail Blazers, the Bucks survived a late comeback and earned their sixth in seven games with a 115-113 defeat of the Kings, the Clippers thrashed the Pistons 129-97 and the Mavericks were too good in a 100-77 win over the Timberwolves.
At Toronto, Amir Johnson scored 17 points and matched his career high with 16 rebounds, while Alan Anderson scored 10 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter for the Raptors.
Cavaliers star guard Kyrie Irving was knocked out by an apparent shoulder injury late in the third quarter as Cleveland lost for the fourth time in five games.
Irving was hurt when he collided with Toronto rookie Jonas Valanciunas on a baseline drive with 2:04 left in the third. He shot the resulting free throws one-handed. Irving made the first but missed the second before walking off and heading to the locker room. He finished with 12 points.
At Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant had 23 points and 11 rebounds as the Thunder stretched their winning streak to five games. The Celtics had pulled within 68-65 after three quarters before going without a basket for the first 5 minutes of the fourth, and they never could recover.
Paul Pierce had 20 points to lead Boston, which had its own run of five straight wins broken. Kevin Garnett chipped in 10 points and 11 rebounds.
The Magic ended its seven-game home losing streak, their longest skid in Orlando since 2003-04, with the victory over the 76ers, who have dropped five straight and 13 in a row on the road.
The Mavericks have won three straight and four of their last five in a last-ditch push for the playoffs. They entered the day in 11th place in the West, three games out of the eighth spot.
Derrick Williams had 18 points and nine rebounds for the lethargic Timberwolves, who had no energy on the second night of a tough back-to-back that started in Denver. J.J. Barea scored 16 points, but Minnesota's bench managed just six other points. The Wolves are 6-25 since Kevin Love broke his hand for the second time on Jan. 8.
At Los Angeles, Blake Griffin led seven players in double figures with 22 points on 9 of 12 shooting as the Clippers beat the Pistons for their 10th win in 13 games.
Chris Paul had 20 points and 14 assists, and Caron Butler added 15 points before leaving in the third quarter with a left elbow contusion. Matt Barnes had 16 points, DeAndre Jordan added 13 points and seven rebounds, Willie Green 11 points and Chauncey Billups 10 points.
The Clippers set season highs for points scored and shooting percentage (62) while leading the entire game. Their old high of 125 points came in a win over the Lakers last month. Reported by guardian.co.uk 2 days ago.
Mario Chalmers scored 26 points and Chris Bosh added 24 as the *Miami Heat* won their 18th straight game, easily beating the *Indiana Pacers* 105-91 on Sunday night.
The 18-game streak equals the seventh longest in NBA history, and is the league's best since the Boston Celtics won 19 straight during the 2008-09 season. Miami will try for No. 19 when it hosts Atlanta on Tuesday night.
Dwyane Wade scored 23 points for the Heat, who controlled the game despite a season-low 13 points from LeBron James.
David West scored 17 of his 24 points in the first half for the Pacers, who fell nine games behind Miami in the Eastern Conference standings.
In other matches, the Raptors had a 100-96 win over the Cavaliers, the Lakers beat the Bulls 90-81, the Thunder had a 91-79 win over the Celtics, and the Magic defeated he 76ers 99-91.
At Los Angeles, Dwight Howard scored 16 points and grabbed 21 rebounds and Kobe Bryant chipped in with 19 points, nine assists and seven rebounds for the Lakers, who moved into sole possession of the No. 8 and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with a 90-81 win over Chicago.
Ryan Anderson capped a 20-point performance with a layup as he was fouled with 1.8 seconds left as the Hornets ended a three-game skid with a 98-96 win over the Trail Blazers, the Bucks survived a late comeback and earned their sixth in seven games with a 115-113 defeat of the Kings, the Clippers thrashed the Pistons 129-97 and the Mavericks were too good in a 100-77 win over the Timberwolves.
At Toronto, Amir Johnson scored 17 points and matched his career high with 16 rebounds, while Alan Anderson scored 10 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter for the Raptors.
Cavaliers star guard Kyrie Irving was knocked out by an apparent shoulder injury late in the third quarter as Cleveland lost for the fourth time in five games.
Irving was hurt when he collided with Toronto rookie Jonas Valanciunas on a baseline drive with 2:04 left in the third. He shot the resulting free throws one-handed. Irving made the first but missed the second before walking off and heading to the locker room. He finished with 12 points.
At Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant had 23 points and 11 rebounds as the Thunder stretched their winning streak to five games. The Celtics had pulled within 68-65 after three quarters before going without a basket for the first 5 minutes of the fourth, and they never could recover.
Paul Pierce had 20 points to lead Boston, which had its own run of five straight wins broken. Kevin Garnett chipped in 10 points and 11 rebounds.
The Magic ended its seven-game home losing streak, their longest skid in Orlando since 2003-04, with the victory over the 76ers, who have dropped five straight and 13 in a row on the road.
The Mavericks have won three straight and four of their last five in a last-ditch push for the playoffs. They entered the day in 11th place in the West, three games out of the eighth spot.
Derrick Williams had 18 points and nine rebounds for the lethargic Timberwolves, who had no energy on the second night of a tough back-to-back that started in Denver. J.J. Barea scored 16 points, but Minnesota's bench managed just six other points. The Wolves are 6-25 since Kevin Love broke his hand for the second time on Jan. 8.
At Los Angeles, Blake Griffin led seven players in double figures with 22 points on 9 of 12 shooting as the Clippers beat the Pistons for their 10th win in 13 games.
Chris Paul had 20 points and 14 assists, and Caron Butler added 15 points before leaving in the third quarter with a left elbow contusion. Matt Barnes had 16 points, DeAndre Jordan added 13 points and seven rebounds, Willie Green 11 points and Chauncey Billups 10 points.
The Clippers set season highs for points scored and shooting percentage (62) while leading the entire game. Their old high of 125 points came in a win over the Lakers last month. Reported by guardian.co.uk 2 days ago.