Heat edge Raptors as divisional leaders clash
Miami Heat’s Chris Andersen reacts after being charged with a foul against the Toronto Raptors during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Miami, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014. AP
MIAMI, Florida—Miami’s LeBron James scored 30 points to help the Heat grind past Toronto 102-97 in Sunday’s (Florida time) clash of NBA divisional leaders, moving eight games clear atop the Southeast Division.
Elsewhere, Oklahoma City rediscovered its home-court form and moved a game clear in the Northwest by beating Boston, league leader Indiana held off fast-finishing Cleveland, and Golden State made it nine-straight wins by defeating Washington.
Miami’s Michael Beasley came off the bench to add 17 in a key contribution as the Heat came from five points down after three quarters. They went on a 7-0 run to open the fourth and never trailed thereafter.
DeMar DeRozan scored 26 points on 11 for 19 shooting for Toronto, which had won its previous five games to open a four-game lead in the Atlantic Division.
Oklahoma City’s Reggie Jackson scored a career-high 27 points to lead the Thunder to a 119-96 victory over Boston.
The Thunder started the season 13-0 at home but had lost three of four since. They were guided back to home advantage by Kevin Durant who added 21 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.
Jeff Green and Avery Bradley scored 19 points apiece for the Celtics who have lost seven of their past eight.
Indiana’s Roy Hibbert made a putback and two free throws in the final 1:09 to help the Pacers hold on for an 82-78 win over Cleveland after seeing most of their seemingly comfortable lead evaporate.
Paul George scored 16 points for Indiana, which led an undermanned Cavaliers team by 16 in the fourth before Dion Waiters brought Cleveland back by scoring 12 points in a 16-1 run that got the Cavs within a point with 3:35 left. Hibbert’s free throw with 7.9 seconds left put the Pacers up 81-78, and Indiana got the ball back when Cleveland’s Earl Clark stepped out on an inbounds pass 1 second later.
Waiters scored 21 for the Cavaliers, who played without All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving.
Golden State’s Klay Thompson scored 26 points to lead the Warriors to a 112-96 win over Washington. Their nine-game winning streak is their longest within a single season since 1975.
New York’s Carmelo Anthony scored 15 of his 19 points in the first quarter to jump-start the Knicks’ 92-80 victory over Dallas.
Denver’s Ty Lawson and Timofey Mozgov had 20 points each as the Nuggets beat the slumping Los Angeles Lakers 137-115.
Memphis’ Jon Leuer matched a career-high with 23 points as the Grizzlies dominated the second half to win 112-84 at Detroit.
