NBA: Heat end skid with win over Hornets

Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade, center, goes up for a shot against New Orleans Hornets forward Ryan Anderson, left, and guard Greivis Vasquez (21) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012, in Miami. AP/Wilfredo Lee

MIAMI – Dwyane Wade scored 26 points and LeBron James added 24 as the NBA champion Miami Heat snapped a two-game losing streak on Saturday with a 106-90 victory over the New Orleans Hornets.

Wade connected on nine of 12 shots from the floor and James added seven assists and five rebounds for the Heat, who had suffered back-to-back losses to the lowly Washington Wizards and the red-hot New York Knicks.

Chris Bosh contributed 13 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots, while Ray Allen and Shane Battier scored 11 points each for the Heat.

Ryan Anderson scored 24 points to lead the Hornets, who have lost three straight and are the worst in the Western Conference.

The Hornets, coming of a loss to Memphis on Friday, were also without Anthony Davis and Eric Gordon.

James, who had a triple-double in the loss at Washington and almost had another in a losing effort against the Knicks, made nine of his first 10 shots. He notched his 23rd straight game – dating to last season – with at least 20 points.

The game was the second of a six-game homestand for the Heat. On Monday they host the Atlanta Hawks, who beat Memphis 93-83 on Saturday to remain a half-game behind the Heat in the Southeast division.